A 67-year-old man, Ezekiel Kefas, and one Stephen Zabadi, 44, have been arrested by the police for murdering a police officer over a “pot of soup” in Adamawa State, North-East Nigeria.
The late police officer, Ibrahim Maizabiwa was clubbed to death by the duo of Kefas and Zabadi, after he allegedly took a clay-pot of soup, which fell off and was shattered.
The incident happened at Wamsa-Suwa Ward in the Lamurde Local Government Area of the state, according to police information.
The Spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, SP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the arrests of the two suspects to SaharaReporters on Wednesday and noted that they were apprehended on November 19, 2024.
He further noted that the son of the deceased, Danlami Maizabuwa, reported the matter to the police command.
“Our investigation revealed that the deceased was a police officer attached to the Gombe State Command. He visited his friend, Ezekiel Kefas, who resides at Wamsa Suwa. He was killed and buried in the community,” Nguroje said.
While fielding in questions during interrogation, Kefas denied the allegation and attributed the murder to mob action.
He however alleged that he had personally identified two persons, namely; Yakubu Suleiman and one Kilyobas, during the mob attack.
He said “My friend came and started destroying properties including a pot of soup and water storage pot in my house. He also assaulted people as a result of which women and children raised the alarm which attracted thugs who beat him to death.
“Those who killed include Yakubu, Suleiman and Kilyobas; they beat him up with sticks to death. Yesterday, we went to the houses of those who killed him, but we didn’t meet anyone of them,” he added.