The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 18-year-old Fatiyah Abdulhakeem, a panel beater, for allegedly killing a retired Permanent Secretary, Adamu Jagaba, and stealing his car.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday at Jagaba’s block moulding business along the Eastern Bye-Pass in Minna, the Niger State capital. Abdulhakeem allegedly stabbed the victim in the head and fled with his Toyota Camry. Jagaba was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead by medical experts.
An eyewitness, Nuhu Abubakar, described the shocking sequence of events. “The panel beater came to fix a car at the industry. There was no argument. Suddenly, he stabbed the permanent secretary and drove off with his car, leaving him in a pool of blood,” Abubakar recounted.
The police swiftly tracked the stolen vehicle and apprehended Abdulhakeem later that evening. Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Spokesman, provided further details. “On December 7, 2024, at about 11:30 am, a report of culpable homicide was received. The victim, Adamu Jagaba, was attacked and stabbed at his block industry. The suspect made away with his vehicle,” Abiodun said.
Abiodun confirmed that police operatives intercepted the stolen car along Bosso Estate Road, Minna, hours after the incident. “The suspect confessed during interrogation, admitting he deliberately stabbed the victim multiple times on the head and neck, also striking him with a stapler before stealing the vehicle,” he added.
The suspect further revealed that he conspired with some of the victim’s workers, who allegedly provided insider information to facilitate the crime. He also implicated other accomplices in similar criminal activities. “The investigation is ongoing to apprehend the accomplices. The suspect will be charged to court once the investigation is concluded,” Abiodun assured.
The late Adamu Jagaba, who had retired from the Niger State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, was well-regarded for his contributions to the state’s development.
