Adeleye Kunle Reports
The Nigeria Police Force has revealed the identities of army officers accused of murdering an Islamic cleric in Yobe State recently, Track News reports
According to TrackNews, Sheikh Goni Aisami was killed last Friday night near Jaji Maji in Karasuwa local government in Yobe.
The State Police Command has since confirmed, through its Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkareem, that the perpetrators of the crime have been apprehended and are being held in custody.
Following further investigation, the soldiers’ identities were confirmed as LCPL John Gabriel and LCPL Adamu Gideon.
In a statement obtained by newsmen on Tuesday, Abdulkareem stated that Gabriel and Gideon, who were arrested at the scene of the crime, are both assigned to the 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru.
“In its never-ending efforts to combat crime and criminality, the Yobe State Police Command marked another milestone with the arrest of suspects (two soldiers) in an armed robbery and homicide case.”
“On August 19, 2022, detectives from Karasuwa Divisional Police Headquarters apprehended N/A13/69/1522 Lance Corporal John Gabriel and N/A13/70/6552 Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon, both attached to 241 RECCE Battalion, Nguru, in response to a distress call.”
“One of the assailants (L/CPL John Gabriel) whose intent was to rob unsuspecting motorists of their vehicles left the barracks on the date in mufti having concealed his rifle in a camp bed for military checkpoint at Nguru at about 2200hrs,” according to the police statement.
“Meanwhile, Sheik Goni Aisami, a prominent Islamic scholar based in Gashua, was driving alone from Kano to Gashua in his Honda Accord car with registration number KBT 31 AE when he arrived at the military checkpoint at Nguru.”
“L/CPL John Gabriel asked the Islamic cleric to give him a ride to Jaji Maji, which he did. That while driving to Jaji-Maji town, the assailant asked him to park because there was an unusual noise coming from the rear tyre.”
According to the statement, while the cleric was checking the tyre, the suspect pulled out his rifle and shot and killed him.
The suspects allegedly dragged the cleric’s body and hid it in the bush before seizing the vehicle and attempting to drive it away, but the vehicle refused to start after several attempts.
According to the police statement, “the suspect called his accomplice L/CPL Adamu Gideon from 241 RECCE Battalion Nguru and an auto-electrician from Jaji Maji to assist in starting the car.”
Nemesis, on the other hand, caught up with the perpetrators when a passerby on his way to his farm early in the morning spotted the cleric’s lifeless body, a vehicle, and some people. The police from Jaji were quickly mobilized and raced down to the scene.
According to the police report, this resulted in the arrest of the two soldiers as well as the recovery of the corpse, the deceased vehicle, and the rifle used in the commission of the crime.
A Volkswagen Sharon bus was also discovered at the crime scene, according to TrackNews
The police department stated that it is still investigating the case and that the suspects in its custody will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is completed.
