23-year-old businessman, Mr Yusuf Abubakar, was stabbed to death on Saturday in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger state.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the incident on Monday said “I can confirm to you that the incident occurred and investigations are ongoing to unravel the root cause and also arrest the fleeing suspects.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), an eyewitness and resident of Barkin Sale/Morris in Chanchaga LGA, Mr Tofik Mukaila stated that two suspected thieves allegedly stabbed Abubakar to death at about 8:00pm on Saturday.
Mukaila said the suspects stabbed the deceased to death for refusing to release his money and telephone to them.
“I was seeing off a friend at about 8:00pm on Saturday when I saw two boys running to the main road and trying to stop a tricycle going to Mobile round-about.
”I did not suspect anything as the boys boarded the Keke and left. On my way home, I noticed that the deceased, who used to sell fuel, vehicle lubricants and recharge cards by the road, was lying lifeless on the ground and I called on neighbours around,” he said.
Mukaila said that when neighbours and other passersby arrived at the scene, family members of the deceased who live near his business premises in the area were alerted.
When NAN visited Abubakar’s family, Abubakar Idris, the father of the deceased, said his late son was 23 years old and unmarried.
Idris, 72, with tears on his face, said his son was stabbed on the chest and stomach, making his intestines hang out from his belly.
He said when the suspects intercepted his son, they demanded the proceeds from his day’s sales and his handset but he refused and struggled with them; they stabbed him and made away with the items.
Idris, who appealed to the police to fish out the killers, said that was the only way to console the family and to serve as a deterrent to other criminals.
The deceased, Abubakar was reportedly buried on Sunday, according to Islamic rites.