Suspected killer of Niger ex-perm sec died in hospital – Police

The suspected killer of Niger State ex-permanent secretary, 18-year-old Fatiha Abdulhakeem has died in the Minna General Hospital, the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, has said.

Abiodun made this known on Wednesday when he confirmed that the suspect, Abdulhakeem, was rushed to the Minna General Hospital after he complained of severe stomach ache.

“The suspect complained of severe stomach pain and was taken to the General Hospital, Minna, for medical attention and died while receiving treatment”, Abiodun said.

PUNCH Metro however learnt from an indigene who pleaded anonymity that the suspect died in police custody in Minna, where he was helping with the case pending the completion of an investigation.

Abdulhakeem had been paraded a few days ago at the Police Headquarters, Minna by the Commissioner of Police, Shawulu  Danmamman, where he confessed to killing the ex-permanent secretary.

The suspect had said he stabbed the ex-permanent secretary to death at his block industry office along the PDP secretariat in Minna and implicated some staff members of the late Jagaba saying he was contacted by the staff of the block industry to kill him.

Operatives of the Niger State Police Command confirmed the arrest of Abdulhakeem who worked as a panel beater, for allegedly killing the ex-Permanent Secretary. Abdulhakeem was alleged to have stabbed Jagaba in the head and neck before making away with his car.

Jagaba, who retired from the state Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, also operated a block moulding industry at the Eastern Bye Pass in Minna, the state capital, before he met his gruesome death.

Abiodun had confirmed the killing of Jagaba and subsequent arrest of Abdulhakeem, saying, “On December 7, 2024, at about 3 pm, a report of an incident of culpable homicide was made at Tudun-Wada Div, that at about 11.30 am, a yet-to-be-identified person(s) trespassed to a block industry located along Eastern Bye-pass, Minna, attacked and stabbed one Adamu Jagaba on the head and made away with his vehicle.

“The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he gave up the ghost and was confirmed dead,” adding that police operatives visited the scene.

“Fortunately, on the local circulation of the vehicle’s details to all police points and formation within the state, on the same date at about 7 pm, the Police Crack Squad of the Command intercepted the vehicle along Bosso Estate Road, Minna, with the suspect, named: Fatiyah Abdulhakeem, aged 18yrs of Tayi Village via Bosso Minna.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being the victim’s car painter and visited him at his block industry located at Eastern Bye-pass, via Maitumbi opposite PDP Secretariat Minna. He said after discussing changing the vehicle bumper, he deliberately stabbed the deceased severally on the head and neck, also hit him multiple times with a stapler in the office and made away with his Toyota Camry vehicle with Reg. No. MNA 61 AE.

“He confessed further that he conspired with some of the deceased’s workers, who gave him the target and more information in carrying out the crime. He said he has other gang members he does such heinous acts with, as he mentioned their names for investigation. Effort is ongoing to apprehend the members and the suspect will be charged to court for prosecution, immediately after investigation,” Abiodun stated.