The Bauchi State Police Command has revealed the identity of the woman killed in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state, saying she’s Mrs. Rifkatu Yohanna, 35 years old.
The Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, in a statement made available to journalists Tuesday evening, condemned “an incident” in Tafawa Balewa LGA of the state which claimed the life of one woman.
Kashim, in his statement, did not reveal the identity of the woman and he did not give details of what the “incident” was and how many people were arrested.
He only said that, “the state government is in receipt of security report from Tafawa Balewa Local Government of an incident that claimed the life of an innocent woman.
“Security agents have begun investigations into the matter and have successfully arrested some suspects in connection with the incident,” describing the incident as a “dastardly and infamous act.”
Continuing, he said, “It is disheartening that the incident being orchestrated by forces of darkness who are hell-bent on unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting members of the public, is coming at a time when government was working hard to secure lives and properties of citizens of the state.”
But the Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, said the deceased went to the farm on Monday and did not return home and this raised suspicion by her family who put a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer of Tafawa Balewa Division.
Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said: “A distress call was made to the DPO, Tafawa Balewa, at about 8.45pm, of a case of culpable homicide that happened on Monday, 20th September, 2021.
“It was in relation to one Rifkatu Yohanna, 35 years old woman of Tafawa Balewa town. She went to the farm on the same date at 8.00am and did not return home.
“When a distress call was received by the DPO, a combined search team was organised by the DPO as well as the DPO of Bununu, during which her corpse was recovered in the bush near a hamlet.”
He added that: “Violence then erupted in Tafawa Balewa town when some people came out protesting. Youths stoned and damaged the patrol vehicle of Bununu Police Division as a result of which some of them were injured.”
The Police spokesman said that when the Commissioner of Police, Sylvester Alabi, received the information of the “dastardly act by the hoodlums,” he directed that the DPO of Tafawa Balewa and that of Bununu should engage the youths so that peace will be restored.
“As I speak with you now, normalcy has returned to Tafawa Balewa town,” he informed.
He said that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, vowing that “the Command will not leave any stone unturned to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed for a discreet investigation into the matter. Further information will be communicated.”
Wakil assured residents of the state of the Command’s readiness to ensure adequate security protection of their lives and properties as personnels have been deployed across the state to fight the criminals and get them arrested.
He appealed to the people not to take the laws into their hands no matter what happened but urged them to report any crime to the nearest Police station for prompt action.
