Police arrest six over Indian hemp possession, alleged murder

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested six suspects in two separate incidents involving the alleged possession of 69 blocks of suspected Indian hemp and the killing of a 45-year-old man over a witchcraft allegation.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations carried out by officers of the command.

According to him, on September 21, 2026, at about 3 pm, officers of the Gadau Division intercepted a black Sharon Wagon with registration number WKA 805 along Sharfolli village, Atafowa District.

“Acting on credible intelligence, our operatives stopped the vehicle and arrested Shu’aibu Umar, 35, and Isah Ibrahim, 20, both from Atafowa village in Itas-Gadau Local Government Area. They were allegedly found with 69 blocks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, concealed in bags of groundnuts.

“The two suspects were arrested while the recovered items were taken into police custody for further investigation,” the statement said.

In a separate case, SP Habib said four suspects were arrested over the alleged murder of Garba Abdullahi, 45, of Dunari village, Atahowa District.

He said Abdullahi was allegedly accused of causing the illness of a woman identified as Sawaida Dahiru.

According to the police spokesperson, the incident occurred on September 22 at about 11:40 am when Abdullahi was allegedly attacked while returning from his farm.

The suspects were identified as Shitu Dahiru, 25; Magaji Dahiru, 42; Sabiu Auwalu, 20; and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19.

Habib said the suspects allegedly attacked Abdullahi with knives and machetes, inflicting injuries on different parts of his body and leaving him unconscious.

He said police officers who responded to the incident rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Azare, where a medical doctor later confirmed him dead.

His body was subsequently released to his relatives for burial, while the four suspects were arrested.

Habib said both cases had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for discreet investigation and prosecution.