Operatives of the Bauchi state police command have arrested four persons over alleged killing of a suspected watermelon thief.
This was disclosed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil on Friday.
According to the police, the deceased was allegedly caught after stealing seven watermelons worth about N2,000 from farm in Dallaji village, Tudin Wada ward, in the Warji Local Government Area of the state.
Narrating the incident that led to the gruesome murder of the suspected thief, Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said, “On March 29, 2023, around 10am, one Ado Sanya (40), of Dallaji village, Tudun Wada ward, Warji LGA, reported at Warji Divisional Police Headquarters that on the same date, around 1.20am, one Ibrahim Hashimu criminally trespassed into the farmland of one Mohammed Garba, of the same address and stole some watermelons
“His hands were tied with a rope as he was beaten with sticks by Mohammad Daluta (24); Ibrahim Mahmud (22); Bashir Mahmud (18); and Abdullahi Mahmud (22); all males of the same address.
“On receiving the report, a team of detectives was quickly drafted to the scene and evacuated the victim to Warji General Hospital for medical attention, from where they were referred to the Cottage Hospital, Gwaram LGA, Jigawa State, where he was certified dead by a medical doctor.
“An investigation commenced in earnest and preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, Ibrahim Hashimu, trespassed into a summer farm and stole seven pieces of watermelon fruit, valued at N2,000.
“In the process of taking away the stolen items, the owner of the farm caught him on the spot. He then conspired with others and beat him with sticks. As a result, he sustained an internal injury which led to his death.
“Consequently, all the above four suspects were successfully arrested and an investigation is still ongoing to explore all the intricacies surrounding the case.”
Reacting to the ugly incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan, accused the suspects of taking the law into their hands.
Alhassan directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi, for discreet investigation.