The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man, Sahabi Rabi’u, suspected to be involved in the gruesome killing of a 30-year-old nursing mother and her 10-month-old baby in Sheme village, Faskari Local Government Area.
The disclosure was made in a statement released to journalists on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence and further mentioned having conspired with a friend, now at large, to lure the victims to the outskirts of Sheme village, where they were killed. The bodies were burnt and thrown into a nearby well,” the statement read.
DSP Sadiq added, “Investigation revealed that the suspects were involved in a paternity dispute with the victim, which escalated into the brutal murder. They allegedly conspired to eliminate the victim and her child. The bodies of the victims have been recovered, and the suspect is in custody. Efforts are being made to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspect.”
The Police Public Relations Officer further said that the Commissioner of Police in Katsina, CP Bello Shehu, condemned the act as “barbaric and inhumane” and reassured the public that the command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice.
He urged members of the public to provide information that could assist in the investigation and lead to the apprehension of the second suspect, assuring that any information provided would be treated confidentially.
“The investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated in due course,” DSP Sadiq added.
Separately, PUNCH Online had reported that the Katsina State Police had also apprehended a 16-year-old boy, Nuhu Haruna, from Dutsinma Local Government Area, in connection with the killing of his stepmother. Other suspects involved in kidnapping and homicide across the state were also arrested.
ASP Abubakar Sadiq, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters, said Haruna was arrested following a violent dispute with his stepmother, Rabi Haruna, 40, which led to her death.
“On October 21, 2024, at about 1:00 p.m., the command arrested one Nuhu Haruna, male, aged 16, of Fenza village, Dutsinma LGA, over a case of culpable homicide. The suspect reportedly struck his stepmother with a stick on her stomach during a misunderstanding, leading to her untimely death,” ASP Sadiq disclosed.
