Police nab nine over killings, market unrest in Jigawa

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine suspects over a series of violent incidents, including a deadly market clash, the killing of a vigilante member, an attack on a police station and a separate homicide case in Ringim Local Government Area.

The command said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations aimed at restoring order and tracking down those responsible for the unrest.

Police spokesperson, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the crisis at Gujungu Market in Taura Local Government Area began on July 26 after an altercation between a soldier and 25-year-old Biniya Alhaji Ibrahim from Miga Local Government Area.

According to him, the confrontation turned deadly when the soldier allegedly stabbed Ibrahim, who later died from his injuries.

The incident triggered widespread violence as hoodlums reportedly attacked a police station, fired bows and arrows at security operatives and set two thatched shops within the market on fire.

Adam said police operatives later arrested two suspects identified as Muhammed Muhammed, 22, from Gagarawa Local Government Area, and Faridu Mohammed, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.

The command also linked six other arrests to a related attack on members of a local vigilante group during the same disturbance.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly assaulted two vigilantes with sticks and cutlasses, leaving one dead and another receiving treatment in hospital.

Police identified the suspects as Isiyaku Abdulkarim, 55; Yahaya Habu, 31; Ibrahim Abubakar, 30; Audu Mamman Janare, 30; Ya’u Duga, 65; and Mamman Musa, 20, all from Taura, Gagarawa, Kaugama and Jahun local government areas.

The command also recovered six cows believed to have been abandoned during the unrest.

In a separate incident, police arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Saminu Ibrahim, over the alleged stabbing of another youth during a dispute in Dabigel Village, Ringim Local Government Area.

Adam said preliminary investigations revealed that an argument between the two young men escalated into violence, with the suspect allegedly stabbing the victim in the chest with a sharp metal object.

The injured victim later died while receiving treatment at a hospital.

The police said the suspect would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department after preliminary investigations before being charged in court.

Meanwhile, the command has convened a stakeholders’ meeting involving traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, Miyetti Allah representatives, youth groups and other security stakeholders to address the causes of the Gujungu Market crisis and prevent future violence.

The Commissioner of Police commended security personnel for their swift response to the disturbances and assured residents that the command would continue to pursue anyone involved in criminal activities while urging members of the public to remain law-abiding and support ongoing investigations with credible information.