The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine suspects in connection with separate incidents involving alleged murder, an attack on a police station and violent unrest at Gujungu Market in Taura Local Government Area of the state.
The command said the arrests followed intelligence driven operations aimed at restoring peace and bringing those responsible for the incidents to justice.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Dutse, the state capital.
According to him, violence erupted at Gujungu Market on July 26 after a disagreement between a soldier and a 25 year old man, Biniya Alhaji Ibrahim, from Miga Local Government Area.
Adam said the confrontation turned deadly when the soldier allegedly stabbed Ibrahim, who later died from his injuries after being taken to hospital.
He explained that the incident triggered widespread unrest, with hoodlums allegedly attacking a police station, firing bows and arrows at security operatives and setting two thatched shops on fire.
The police spokesperson said two suspects, identified as Muhammed Muhammed, 22, of Gagarawa Local Government Area and Faridu Mohammed, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.
He added that six additional suspects were later arrested over a related attack on members of a local vigilante group.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly assaulted two vigilante members with sticks and cutlasses, leaving one dead while the other is receiving treatment in hospital.
The suspects were identified as Isiyaku Abdulkarim, 55, Yahaya Habu, 31, Ibrahim Abubakar, 30, Audu Mamman Janare, 30, Ya’u Duga, 65, and Mamman Musa, 20, from Taura, Gagarawa, Kaugama and Jahun local government areas.
Adam also disclosed that six cows believed to have been abandoned during the violence were recovered by security operatives.
In a separate development, the command arrested a 20 year old suspect, Saminu Ibrahim of Gidan Gona Village in Ringim Local Government Area, over the alleged stabbing to death of another youth during a dispute in Dabigel Village.
The police said preliminary investigations revealed that a misunderstanding between the two young men escalated into violence, during which the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest with a sharp metal object.
The injured victim was rushed to hospital but was confirmed dead while receiving treatment.
Adam said the suspect remained in police custody and would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department after preliminary investigations before being charged in court.
Meanwhile, the command said it had convened a stakeholders’ meeting involving Miyetti Allah leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth representatives, community leaders and security agencies to address the underlying causes of the Gujungu Market crisis and prevent future occurrences.
The Commissioner of Police commended officers and other security agencies for their prompt response in containing the violence and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
He also urged residents to remain peaceful and continue providing credible information that would assist security agencies in tackling crime and maintaining public safety.