The Kogi State Police Command has arrested suspects linked to the murder of a fresh graduate of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and recovered his stolen tricycle.
The command’s spokesperson, Saliu Oyiza Afusat, disclosed this in a statement, describing the operation as a “well-coordinated, intelligence-led” effort that dismantled a criminal network involved in homicide and armed robbery.
According to the police, the victim, Aminu Abubakar, a resident of Otokiti in Lokoja, had recently graduated and was awaiting mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps when the incident occurred.
Afusat said the victim left home with his tricycle in search of daily income but failed to return, raising concerns among family members. His body was later discovered around the CBN area in Zone 8, Lokoja.
Following the incident, operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Garba Godwin Ibrahim and Ashema Usman Samson.
“Investigation revealed that the suspects attacked the victim with a shovel. Autopsy results confirmed that he sustained multiple severe blows to the back of the head, resulting in fatal injuries,” Afusat said.
She added that the suspects allegedly posed as construction workers and lured the victim to a secluded location, where they carried out the attack with the intention of stealing his tricycle.
The stolen tricycle was later sold to Kabiru Idris in Ayingba. Police operatives tracked and arrested the buyer, recovering the tricycle along with four other motorcycles suspected to be stolen.
According to the police, Idris confessed to dealing in stolen items and receiving them from criminal elements.
Further investigations revealed that the two principal suspects are ex-convicts previously linked to armed robbery and homicide cases.
Afusat said the suspects have been charged before Magistrate Court 5 in Lokoja and remanded in custody.
The Commissioner of Police,
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