The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the brutal murder of a 30-year-old man, Abubakar Auwal, who was beaten into a coma and later died at a hospital. The suspects were taken into custody on July 24, 2026, in the Sheka area of Kano State.
Suspects Arrested After Luring Victim
Police spokesperson CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa disclosed in a statement on Monday, July 27, that the suspects—Abubakar Ali, 40; Sulaiman Lawan, 27; and Hafsat Umar, 22—allegedly lured Auwal to a location under the pretext of confronting him. The motive for the attack stemmed from an accusation that Auwal had enticed Ali's wife, Hafsat Umar.
According to Kiyawa, the Sheka Police Division received a report of the incident and immediately dispatched officers to the scene. Upon arrival, law enforcement found Auwal severely injured and unconscious from the assault.
Victim Dies at Hospital
The victim was rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano for emergency medical treatment. However, the doctor on duty later confirmed that Auwal had succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. His body has been deposited at the hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.
The three suspects were arrested at the scene. Kiyawa confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the accused will be charged in court once the inquiry is concluded.
Police Condemn Vigilante Justice
The State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, strongly condemned the killing and warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands. He emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force has the constitutional authority to investigate, arrest, and prosecute suspects through due process.
In the official statement, Kiyawa detailed: “On 24th July, 2026 at about 1200hrs, a report was received at Sheka Division that one Abubakar Auwal ‘m’, 30 years, was allegedly lured by Abubakar Ali ‘m’ 40 years old, and one Sulaiman Lawan, 'm', 27 years old, and other persons over an allegation of enticing married woman, the wife of Abubakar Ali. Upon receipt of the report, operatives attached to Sheka Police Division were immediately detailed to the scene. On arrival, the victim was found to have been brutally assaulted and beaten into a comatose state.”
Police appealed to the public to report crimes through official channels rather than resorting to extrajudicial actions that lead to loss of life and legal consequences.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about mob justice and domestic disputes escalating to fatal violence in parts of Nigeria. The police continue to urge citizens to trust the legal system to address grievances.
