IGP Solomon Arase

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with the decapitation of a woman, Mrs. Bridget Abahime for alleged blasphemy by a mob of religious extremists in a Kano market last Thursday.

Governor Umar Ganduje had earlier confirmed the arrest of one Dauda, who he described as a key suspect in the murder of the woman, a wife of a pastor in Deeper Life Bible Church, one of the most popular Pentecostal churches in Nigeria after a stakeholders’ meeting held Saturday morning in Kano.

In a statement issued on his behalf on Saturday, Solomon Arase, the Inspector General of Nigeria Police confirmed that Kano State Police Command has succeeded in arresting two key suspects in connection with the mob action.

In the statement signed on his behalf by Bisi Kolawole, spokesperson for the Police, Arase identified the two suspects as Dauda Ahmed and Subeiru Abubakar.

The IGP also said in order to ensure a diligent and professional investigation; he has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in- charge of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) to deploy the Homicide Section of the Department to immediately take over the case.

This, he said, will ensure a meticulous investigation of the case and speedy prosecution of the arrested suspects.

He added that the Homicide Section will also help in the apprehension of other suspects who are currently at large.

Arase added that detachments of Mobile and conventional Police as well as the intelligence assets of the Force have been deployed to protect citizens and prevent the incident from degenerating into a major security threat.

Kolawole, as Assistant Commissioner of Police, added that Arase has directed the Kano State Commissioner of Police to sustain the community engagement actions which he is currently initiating with all strategic security stakeholders and community leaders in the State with a view to dousing the tension being generated by the incident.

Arase who emphasized the sanctity of human lives, on behalf of the Police Force, condoled the family, friends and colleagues of the late Bridget and stressed that the Force shall uphold its mandate on criminal justice delivery in the most firm and speedy fashion in the murder case and in other cases of this nature.

“While the members of the public will be updated on progress of investigation into this case, they are advised to go about their normal activities and resist any temptation to capitalize on the incident to threaten national security as any such attempt will be firmly dealt with.

“The Inspector General also calls on Kano State residents and indeed, all citizens to imbibe the culture of tolerance, rule of law and peaceful co-existence and to trust and cooperate with the police as we strive to ensure justice in this case,” Kolawole said.