ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – A 19-year-old, Muhammad Ibrahim, has been arrested for the alleged murder of his girlfriend in Bauchi.
The tragic event unfolded when Ibrahim, a resident of Sabon Layi, Kano Road, reportedly stabbed his girlfriend in the upper chest region during a heated argument over a N5,000 debt related to a previous affair.
According to Ahmed Wakil, the Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command, the suspect had initially stolen N400,000 from his father’s account to fund a rendezvous with the victim, identified as Emmanuella Ande.
The altercation escalated when Ande demanded the repayment of the N5,000 owed to her, resulting in a physical confrontation.
Wakil said: “The ugly incident happened when the victim demanded the sum of N5,000 which he (suspect) owed her (victim) for previous affairs they had. In the process, a heated argument ensued between them which led to a physical confrontation where the victim sustained a serious injury which led to her death.”
The distressing situation occurred at a hotel in Bayan Gari, where the suspect stabbed Ande, prompting her to scream for help.
When people rushed to intervene, Ibrahim reportedly stabbed another person in the room.
Police operatives, responding to a distress call, arrested the suspect and rescued him from potential mob action.
The victim, Emmanuella Ande, was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by a medical practitioner. Another individual, Zaharaddeen Adamu, who was also stabbed, received treatment and was discharged. The accused was treated at the police clinic and subsequently discharged.
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Wakil said: “On 18th December, 2023 at about 7.00pm, detectives attached to the Operations Restore Peace, arrested one Muhammad Ibrahim, male (19) of Sabon Layi, Kano Road, Bauchi in connection with a case of gruesome murder of Emmanuella Ande.
“The arrest was made following a distress call received from a Good Samaritan that on the same date at about 6.45pm, the accused (Muhammad Ibrahim) entered a hotel room of Happiness Garden situated at Bayan Gari where he stabbed his girlfriend, Emmanuella Ande, female, of Jos Plateau State, around her upper chest region.
“At that point, the victim screamed and the people around attempted to rescue the victim, they forcefully opened the door, where the accused additionally stabbed one Zaharaddeen Adamu, male (36) of Makera area Bauchi on his left hand. The quick intervention of police operatives saved the accused from mob action.
““On receipt of the report, a team of detectives led by the officer in charge of Operation Restore Peace swiftly swung into action, rescued the accused, and evacuated the victim to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi where she was certified dead by a medical practitioner and her corpse was deposited at the mortuary.
“Similarly, Zaharadeen was admitted and treated at the police clinic and discharged. The accused was also treated at the police clinic and discharged and is currently being investigated.”
Ibrahim admitted to the allegations during police interrogation and confessed to meeting the victim on Facebook.
Speaking further, he said: “During interrogation, the accused admitted the allegation against him and further confessed that he met the victim on social media, Facebook, sometime within 2023 when the victim invited him to meet her in Port Harcourt.
“Therefore, the accused stole the sum of N400,000 from his father’s account to spend a good time with his girlfriend.
“The ugly incident happened when the victim demanded the sum of N5,000 which he (suspect) owed her (victim) for previous affairs they had.
“In the process, a heated argument ensued between them which led to a physical confrontation where the victim sustained a serious injury which led to her death.”
The investigation is ongoing, and upon its completion, the suspect will face charges in court for prosecution. The recovered knife serves as a crucial piece of evidence in this tragic case.