The Police command in Niger said on Saturday that it had arrested seven persons, suspected to have killed one Safiyanu Zakari, a member of a cult gang.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Richard Oguche, named the arrested people as Abdullahi Jibrin, Abdullahi Hashimu, Yusuf Mohammed, Ubaida Abubakar, Salim Abdullahi, Salha Sulaiman and Salihu Abubakar.
Oguche told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the murder occurred at about 3 p.m. on Feb. 14, during a clash between two suspected cult groups in some communities in Minna.
“The two groups — the `Yandaba’ cult group of Dutse Hausa, clashed with their Dutse-Gwari rivals along London Street in Minna, during the Eid-el Maulud celebrations, following some disagreements,’’ he explained.
Oguche said that during the clash, dangerous weapons like cutlasses, knives, iron rods, broken bottles and sticks were used.
The spokesman said that the deceased suffered deep cuts during the fight and was rushed to the Minna General Hospital, where he died.
He said that one Alhaji Isah Abdullahi, a retired police officer, who is the deceased’s father, reported the matter to the GRA Police Station in Minna.
“The suspected cultists have since confessed to the crime and will soon be charged for culpable homicide,’’ Oguche said. (NAN)
