18-year-old Suspect Arrested for Murder of Ex Permanent Secretary in Niger

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Less than 12 hours after the former Permanent Secretary in the Niger State Ministry of Works, Mr. Adamu Jagaba, was murdered, an 18-year-old car painter, Fatai Abdulkhareem, has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the arrest of Abdulkhareem, said he was apprehended around the Bosso estate area of Minna, the state capital.

The suspect was reportedly arrested with the Toyota Camry car belonging to the deceased which was taken from Jagabas’ block making factory along the eastern bypass of the state capital.

According to Abiodun  in the statement, “Men of the Tudun Wada Divisional Police Command had on December 7, 2024, at about 3 p.m. received a report concerning a culpable homicide that at about 11.30 a.m., some yet-to-be-identified assailants trespassed into the block industry located along Eastern by-pass, Minna, attacked and stabbed one Adamu Jagaba on the head severally and made away with his vehicle.”

He disclosed that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.

“The police operatives of the division visited the scene and commenced investigation into the unfortunate incident,” Abiodun said, adding that: “Fortunately, on the local circulation of the vehicle details to all police points and formations within the state, on the same date, at about 7p.m., the Police Crack Squad of the Command intercepted the vehicle on Bosso Estate road, Minna, with the suspect, Fatiyah Abdulkhareem, 18 of Tayi Village via Bosso Minna.”

The Police spokesman added that the suspect confessed to being the victim’s car painter and visited him at his block industry located at Eastern By-pass, via Maitumbi opposite PDP Secretariat, Minna, adding that after discussing the  changing of the vehicle bumper, he (suspect )deliberately stabbed the deceased severally on the head and neck, and also hit him multiple times with a stapler he found  in the office and made away with his Toyota Camry vehicle with Reg. No. MNA 61 AE.

Abiodun said the suspect confessed that he  conspired with some of the deceased workers to commit the crime, adding that effort is ongoing to apprehend other members  of the gang while  the suspect will be charged to court for prosecution, immediately after investigation.