Abdussamad Musa, a 200-level student of Criminology and Security Studies of the Federal University Kashere in Gombe State, has been stabbed to death during an argument over a football match.
The Police Command in Gombe State says 14 suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the heinous crime.
ASP Buhari Abdullahi, the command spokesman who confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday, said four others in connection with the incident were at large.
Abdullahi said the incident which resulted from a heated football argument happened off campus on Tuesday night, and the knife used in the murder of Musa was recovered as an exhibit.
He said that investigation had since begun and upon conclusion, the matter would be charged to court for prosecution.
According to him, efforts are on to arrest the other four suspects who are currently on the run.
He said that the command had taken adequate measures to forestall further occurrence, protect lives and property in line with the directive of the state’s Commissioner of police, Hayatu Usman.
The spokesperson advised youths and residents of the state to be mindful of their discussion in the public.
He said that any discussion that is done in a tense atmosphere should be avoided.
“Football is meant to entertain and not to take the lives of anyone, so we should avoid arguments that may create chaos and cause conflicts, especially amongst youths,” he said.
Mrs Janet Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer of FUK told NAN that the incident occurred on Tuesday around 7pm.
Ibrahim said that the incident was as a result of a minor disagreement between two groups after a football match off campus.
She said initially the disagreement was resolved amicably, but the other group later attacked the compound where the deceased lived and they engaged in a fight.
“This resulted in the stabbing of the deceased on his neck with a knife, and he was rushed to the general hospital, Kashere, where he later died due to excessive bleeding as confirmed by a medical doctor,” he said.
She said that the parents were invited and they came on Wednesday and took part in the funeral service for the deceased around 2pm.
According to her, normalcy had since returned to the affected community.
Ibrahim said that the institution does not have control over what happens off campus, but was collaborating with security agencies and community leaders to protect students staying off campus. (Adapted from a NAN report)