A 25-year-old man, Hammed Usman Tunde, has been allegedly stabbed to death by his friend, identified simply as Gafar, during an argument reportedly over a woman in the Oja Gboro area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
Reports indicated that the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday evening while the two friends, described as close companions, were patronising a Hausa sugarcane vendor in the area.
Eyewitnesses said what began as a mild disagreement quickly turned violent, as Gafar, 21, allegedly stabbed Tunde in the chest with a knife.
“The argument was about a girlfriend they were both interested in. Before we knew it, Gafar brought out a knife and stabbed his friend,” an eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said.
The victim, a resident of Ile-Soro 2, Oja Gboro, was initially taken to a nearby private hospital before being referred to the General Hospital, Ilorin, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
The suspect, a native of Ile Olowo in the same area, reportedly fled the scene immediately after the attack. His whereabouts and those of his family members remain unknown as of the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command received a distress call around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday and promptly deployed officers to the area.
She said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased, Hammed Usman Tunde, was stabbed by his friend, Gafar, who fled immediately after the incident. Operatives later visited the suspect’s family house, but the entire household had absconded.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and ordered a discreet investigation into the matter, assuring that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
He also praised residents of Oja Gboro for maintaining calm and avoiding mob action.
“We understand the pain of losing a loved one in such a tragic way, but we urge everyone to remain calm as the police intensify efforts to bring the suspect to justice,” the CP said.
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