The Bauchi State Police Command has made a clarification that the late Abidina Aminu died 12 days after his arrest by the PROHAN as he neither died in Police custody nor anywhere close to a police facility or at Dutsen Tanshi.
A statement signed by the Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, warned members of the public who are in the habit of using social media to ridicule and undermine the tireless efforts of the Command to protect the lives and property of citizens will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly.
The statement read, “Sequel to the above-mentioned, the Command deemed it imperative to update members of the public on the facts and circumstances of the contentious post-making round.
“On the 14th September 2023 at about 1630hrs the Command took over a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Theft and Receiving Stolen Property from PROHAN Security Zango area Bauchi, along with the following persons as defendants: Masud Ibrahim “m” aged 14 years old; Muhammad Aliyu “m” aged 14yrs; Abidina Aminu “m” aged 28yrs, Ibrahim Shehu “m” aged 35yrs all of Bauchi metropolitan.
“That on the said date at about 0800hrs, the aforementioned persons criminally conspired and stole a ram belonging to one Zainab Dahiru “f” aged 35 years of Zango area Bauchi.
“The Command accepted the case and referred it to the Divisional Crime Branch (DCB) at Dutsen Tanshi Division for further Investigation.
“Investigation revealed that the 3rd defendant (Abidina Aminu) deceitfully lured the 1st and the 2nd defendants (Masud Ibrahim and Muhammad Aliyu) and took them on his motorcycle to Zango area, where they criminally conspired and stole the ram, but were unlucky, some good samaritans sighted them and raised alarm, which forced the 3rd defendant (Abidina Aminu) to abscond and abandon his accomplices, while the 1st and the 2nd defendants were chased and arrested by the inhabitants of Zango community.
“Thereafter, the Community handed over the culprits to the Professional Hunters of Nigeria Security Guards Zango.
“On receiving the Information, the PROHAN acted and arrested Abidina Aminu. During the interview by the PROHAN, he confessed to having committed the alleged offences and further revealed that the 4th defendant (Ibrahim Shehu) is part of their gang as well as the receiver of all stolen properties (Sheep and goats). He further narrated that their operations cover the Zango area, Gwallagan Mayaki, and even the Fadaman Mada area, of Bauchi state respectively.
“It was in the process of the interrogation by PROHAN, the said Ibrahim Shehu sustained a fracture on his right leg and Abidina Aminu, a bruise on his hand.
“Subsequently, after all the actions made by PROHAN, they took the defendants to the D Divisional Police Headquarters Dutsen Tanshi area and tried to hand them over including the impaired victims, but the DPO rejected and asked PROHAN to take them to a hospital for necessary treatment.
“Afterwards, they were returned and their confessional statement was recorded under the words of caution along with three others mentioned above.
“By alert, the suspect (Ibrahim Shehu) also during his confessional statement revealed that the 5th suspect (Mohammed Sani) aged 40yrs of the same address, was the receiver of all the sheep and goats brought to him by the remaining gang members including the Abidina Aminu.
“Upon getting this development, police detectives swiftly traced and arrested Mohammed Sani for alleged criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen properties, something he admitted without much ado.
“Based on these facts, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) D Division Dutsen Tanshi established the alleged offences against the five defendants.
“They were charged for the established offences on FIR to Tashan Babiye Area Court, Bauchi on three (3) count charges; Criminal Conspiracy, Theft and Receiving stolen properties, where Masud Ibrahim “m” aged 14yrs, Muhammad Aliyu “m” aged 14yrs, Ibrahim Shehu “m” aged 35yrs and Muhammad Sani admitted the charges and were convicted after the Court found them guilty, while Abidina Aminu pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned for hearing after which he was admitted to bail by the Court.
“Moreover, the Command has arrested the PROHAN personnel who acted in excess of their authority and took the law into their own hands, cruelly caused injury to the defendant’s hands and sabotaged the course of Justice.
He further said, “In light of the absence of official contact from the affected party, the Command hereby considers the incident unsubstantiated and we are ever welcome to serve you better in every instance incidental to our mandate.
“We urge the public to discontinue its claims, the Command reiterate that all complainants about police actions or inactions may be reported via the following contact CRU numbers: 08023684497 or at the nearest Police formations respectively.
The Bauchi State Police Commissioner, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad has extended his heartfelt condolence to the family and friends of the deceased and ensured that Justice takes its course unfailingly.
