A man identified as Habibu Umaru alongside his two accomplices has been arrested by the Niger State Police Command for the alleged killing of his sister in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Shawulu Danmamman, who disclosed this during the end of the year press briefing at the police headquarters in Minna on Thursday, December 12, 2024, said the suspects were arrested for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
According to the CP, the deceased, Hadiza Umaru was reported missing on December 1, 2024, and all efforts to locate her whereabouts proved abortive.
During investigation, her brother was arrested and he confessed to luring her to a herbalist identified as Aliyu Mallam Taiwe.
The herbalist, who was arrested with one Rabiu Aliyu, confessed to have given the victim a poisonous substance to drink for the treatment of “Evil Spirit”, leading to her death.
They further confessed to burying the victim in a shallow grave within Taiwe forest via Maitumbi.
The Police Commissioner noted that three additional shallow graves were discovered in the area.
“On December 5th, 2024, a complaint of a missing person was reported at the Crack-Squad Unit that, one Hadiza Umaru residing in Garatu, Bosso was discovered missing on December 1st, 2024 and all efforts to locate her proved abortive,” the statement read.
"In the course of investigation, one Habibu Umaru of Angwan-Maigari, Garatu Bosso was strongly suspected of the disappearance of the victim and he was arrested.
"During interrogation, he confessed to be the victim’s biological brother and deceitfully took her to one herbalist, named Aliyu Mallam Taiwe at Taiwe village via Maitumbi.
"The said Mallam was arrested with one Rabiu Aliyu and during interrogation, they confessed to have given the victim a poisonous substance to drink for the treatment of “Evil Spirit” and she died instantly.
"They narrated further that the deceased was stripped of her cloth and buried in a shallow grave within Taiwe forest via Maitumbi.
"Investigation further revealed that three additional shallow graves were discovered in the area with the same method of killing the victim.
“Investigation continues and the suspects will be charged to court after investigation.”