Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Niger State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the brutal murder of the Village Head of Zhilu, Bawa Barde, who was hacked to death with machetes in his residence in the early hours of August 23, 2026. The suspects, identified as Zegi Dogari, 48; Danjuma Galadima, 50; Bashir Umar, 32; and John Doma, 35, were arrested between August 25 and 28 following intense investigations into the killing. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the village head was attacked at about 3 a.m. by assailants who inflicted severe machete injuries on him at his residence. Police operatives attached to Gwada Division were mobilised to the scene after receiving a distress call at about 7 a.m. and found the victim in a pool of blood in the backyard of his residence. He was rushed to a nearby medical facility but was confirmed dead.
The police investigation revealed a tangled web of motives that allegedly culminated in the conspiratorial attack. According to the command, the suspects had conspired to attack the village head after he intervened in a dispute involving Bashir Umar, his cousin. The situation was further aggravated by the deceased's warning to Bashir to allow a grazing route through his farmland. Another alleged source of tension involved Zegi Dogari, a herbalist, who was accused of having an affair with the deceased's wife. According to the police, Dogari admitted to the allegation during interrogation and was reportedly instructed to pay a N700,000 fine.
The police revealed that the various issues allegedly culminated in the suspects conspiring to attack the village head in his residence and macheting him to death. In a chilling detail, the police disclosed that Galadima was the deceased's brother, Bashir was his cousin, while the other suspects were also related to the victim. The four suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna, for further investigation and are expected to be arraigned for culpable homicide. In a separate development, the command also arrested three suspects and recovered a cow allegedly stolen from Kateregi area of Katcha Local Government Area. The suspects include Tukur Ado, 25; Musa Ibrahim, 42; and Isah Madaki, 50. They were arrested on August 25 after police operatives intercepted a red Toyota Corolla conveying a cow along the Bida-Minna Road. The driver refused to stop for a search and sped away, prompting the operatives to pursue the vehicle until the suspects were arrested around Talba Estate Road. The cow was recovered from the vehicle, which bore registration number AE 889 KGK. During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to stealing the animal from the Kateregi area of Katcha LGA. The case remains under investigation.
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