Bauchi Islamic teacher’s family laments delay in arrest of suspected killers

The family of a 42-year-old Islamic teacher who was allegedly stabbed to death by suspected Sara-Suka gang members in Bauchi State has demanded justice, lamenting that the suspected killers remain at large one week after the incident.

Speaking with journalists, the deceased’s sister, Jamila Dauda, said no arrests had been made despite the suspects allegedly being well known in the Karofi Madaki community.

She said the family was beginning to lose confidence in the justice system because those allegedly responsible for the killing had not been apprehended.

According to Jamila, her brother was ambushed and stabbed three times while returning home after a dispute linked to political campaign posters pasted on a family property.

She alleged that the attack followed weeks of threats after the deceased confronted some youths who had allegedly pasted campaign posters on the family building without the consent of all family members.

“One of the youths openly threatened to kill him during the disagreement,” she said, adding that her brother died before reaching the hospital despite efforts to save his life.

“The killers of my brother are still walking freely. We need justice. If they are arrested and prosecuted, it will prevent such incidents from happening again. If there is no justice, these boys will continue to believe they can take lives without consequences,” she said.

Jamila described the deceased as the family’s breadwinner and a respected Islamic teacher who dedicated his life to mentoring young people.

She said he was survived by his wife, Umaimatu, and five children.

The bereaved family appealed to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the suspects are arrested and prosecuted, insisting that justice would also serve as a deterrent against violent crimes allegedly committed by Sara-Suka gangs in the state.

When contacted, the command’s spokesman, SP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed that the police had intensified efforts to arrest the two principal suspects.

“We have been trailing them from one place to another. Anywhere we receive credible information, we follow it up. We will not relent until we arrest them,” he said.