Kogi police arrest three over lynching of accused manhood snatcher »

The Kogi State Police Command on Tuesday paraded three suspects for false alarm that led to the lynching of a man accused of snatching their manhood.

The suspects, Harish Abdurasheed,18; Yakubu Mohammed, 25; and Haruna Adamu, 28, all of Hausa descent living in Ayetoro Gbede, were said to have been arrested at Ayetoro Gbede in Kabba/Ijumu Local govt area of the state.

They were among the nine suspects arrested for various offences ranging from armed robbery, thuggery, and stealing.

In an interview with newsmen, one of the suspects, the 25-year-old Yakubu Mohammed said the deceased, an Okada rider, Usman Abubarkar, was his friend who came to say hello to him and others, Harish and Haruna. According to him, the deceased shook hands with three of them after which they all felt a sensation in their manhood; they quickly raised the alarm and also reported to the police and the Hausa community leaders.

According to him both the community leaders they reported to and the police said they could not help them, and they left for home.

“We were sleeping when suddenly policemen arrived and accused them of raising false alarm and that the man had been lynched,” Haruna said.

Other suspects paraded include ThankGod Joseph and Monday Mathew who were arrested for armed robbery in Ofu.

Items recovered from the suspects include one single barrel gun, three cutlasses/knives, five palm oil jerrycans as well as several charms.

The state police commissioner, Bertrand Onuoha, who paraded the suspects said, “Following a tip-off on 28/04/2023, by the United Onicha-Igo Development Association in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, it is alleged among other things, that a group of hoodlums led by one Sumaila Musa aka Osama, (now at large); (2) ThankGod Joseph and others, all ‘m’ of Onicha-Igo town in Ofu, had serially turned criminality into business activities as they frequently terrorise the residents of Onicha-Igo and its environs.

“The hoodlums are responsible for the series of armed robbery, thuggery, mischief, assault, causing hurt, kidnapping and culpable homicide which they committed on different dates against different individuals in Onicha-Igo Community.

“On 23/03/2023 at about 0130hrs, the hoodlums invaded the house and premises of the one Mrs. Rachael Agada, firing guns sporadically, robbed the occupants of their valuable property, kidnapped the house girl of Mrs Agada, named Nawaitu and stole away her Hilux Van. Also, on 28/01/2023, the hoodlums fired guns sporadically and killed one Miss Queen Onoja of Onicha-Igo without any just cause.

“The hoodlums also demolished the overhead water tank in the community, cut it into pieces and took it away without any justification,” he added.

The police also paraded three suspected kidnappers said to have been terrorising the area. All suspects were said to have confessed to the crimes for which they were arrested and paraded.

The state police commissioner added that all suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.