The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested three suspects over the alleged killing of a 27-year-old man during a clash that broke out at a naming ceremony in Dosi Hamlet, Bara Village, Kirfi Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the suspects were arrested in connection with offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace and culpable homicide.
Habib said the incident was reported to the Kirfi Divisional Police Headquarters by the Officer in Charge of Bara Police Outpost after an 80-year-old resident of Dosi Hamlet lodged a complaint on July 1.
According to the police, the violence occurred on June 25 at about 6:30 pm during a naming ceremony when youths from Tudun Sullubawa Hamlet reportedly had a disagreement with youths from Dosi Hamlet.
The statement said the disagreement escalated into violence, during which one Sani Abacha Alhaji Jabbi, 27, of Dosi Hamlet, was allegedly attacked with cutlasses.
“The victim was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, for medical treatment, where he was later certified dead by a medical doctor,” the statement read.
The police said detectives visited the scene and documented evidence before launching an investigation that led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Kano Alhaji Malam, 18; Ali Alhaji Malam, 17; and Shehu Alhaji Malam, 16, all from Tudun Sullubawa Hamlet.
According to the command, the deceased had already been buried by his family in line with Islamic rites.
The police added that preliminary investigations had been concluded, while the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for further investigation and prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the killing and warned against resorting to violence during social gatherings.
He urged community and youth leaders to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence to prevent similar incidents in the state.