The father of ASP Shuaib Malumfashi attached to the Kebbi state Police Command, who was killed on duty, Sani Malumfashi, has called on the Police authority and other relevant agencies to help him fish out the killers of his son.
Malumfashi, a veteran journalist with the Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA), debunked preliminary report by the Police that ASP Malumfashi was suspected to have been killed by a fellow police officer. He told journalists in Kaduna categorically that his son was killed by a group of people.
“Based on our findings, my 33-year-old son was killed by a group of persons. When they brought his corpse for the ritual bath carried out on a dead Muslim corpse, we saw that his neck was dangling. This is suggesting that he was strangled to death by his killers. We believe, one person held his hands to the back and one other strangled him and then use a sharp object to pierced his heart.
“There could be a third person, who is looking at the house when the heinous act was being perpetrated. Those of us who saw his corpse and some medics around concluded that one person could not have killed him,” the bereaved father said.
What was more worrisome, according to Malumfashi, who was former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna state Council, was that his murder took place around 2:10pm, saying that, “even though he lived alone in a chalet because his wife has just put to bed, how could he just be killed in that hour without any clue?
“I know my son is gone. He will not come back. But I want those who have a hand in his murder to be fished out. If a police officer of his rank, a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) could be killed like that, what more of a poor journalist like me or the man on the street. I want justice for my son. Let us know why he was killed and those behind his gruesome murder.”
Meanwhile, the Kebbi state Police Command said it has arrested ASP Abdullahi Garba who was allegedly accused of stabbing ASP Shuaib Malumfashi, which resulted to his death.
A statement sent to journalists in Kaduna by the Kebbi state Police Command’s Spokesman, SP Nafi’u Abubakar, said upon enquiry about the late ASP Malumfashi’s father’s allegation, the erring police officer was arrested and detained in the state CID for investigation.
“On the 19th October, 2022 at about 1410hrs, one ASP Abdullahi Garba, Officer in charge, Sauwa Police out post, had an altercation with ASP Shu’aibu Sani Malumfashi, a Divisional Crime Officer II, Argungu Divisional Police Headquarters, inside fishing Village area, Argungu town. They engaged themselves to a physical combat at the frontage of ASP Abdullahi Garba’s shop. While fighting, ASP Abdullahi Garba used a scissor and stabbed ASP Shu’aibu Sani Malumfashi on his left ribs.
“On receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Argungu, swiftly rushed to the scene, arrested the erring officer, recovered the exhibit and rushed ASP Shu’aibu Sani Malunfashi to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, where regrettably, a medical Doctor confirmed him dead.
“Consequently, the erring Police Officer, ASP Abdullahi Garba was immediately arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Birnin Kebbi, while the case has been referred to Homicide Section for a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the ugly incident.
“In the light of the above, the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi state Command, CP. Ahmed Magaji Kontagora has delegated a team of senior Police officers to condole the family and friends of the deceased Police officer and prays that the gentle soul of ASP Shu’aibu Sani Malunfashi rest in perfect peace.
“CP Ahmed Magaji Kontagora also condemned the action exhibited by the erring Officer which goes contrary to teachings of the Police, Police Act and Regulations as well as other relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement said.
