Niger State Police Command has arrested three individuals, including a brother, on suspicion of murdering his sister in the Bosso Local Government Area.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Shawulu Danmamman, made the announcement during a press conference at police headquarters in Minna on Thursday, 12th December 2024. The suspects were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and culpable homicide.
The victim, Hadiza Umaru, was reported missing on 1st December 2024. Her brother, Habibu Umaru, admitted to luring her to a herbalist, Aliyu Mallam Taiwe.
The herbalist, along with an accomplice, Rabiu Aliyu, confessed to administering a poisonous substance to Hadiza under the pretence of treating an “evil spirit”. The victim sadly died and was buried in a shallow grave in the Taiwe forest.
During their investigation, police uncovered three more shallow graves in the area, suggesting a series of similar crimes.
“On 5th December 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 1st December 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 being 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 having 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 the 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.”
