The command of the Nigeria Police Force in Niger State has confirmed the death of an 18-year-old murder suspect, Fatiyah Abdulhakeem, in custody.
Naijaonpoint understands that the suspect was being accused of involvement in the killing of retired Permanent Secretary Adamu Jagaba in Niger State.
Daily Trust quoted a source within the force to have disclosed that Abdulhakeem died on Thursday, although the exact cause of death remains unknown.
The suspect had recently been paraded by the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, Shawulu Ebenezer Danmama, as the primary suspect in the homicide of the late Permanent Secretary, who was fatally attacked and stabbed at his block industry located near the PDP Secretariat in Minna.
Before his death, Abdulhakeem recounted that certain employees of the deceased had hired him to carry out the murder.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the suspect’s death.
He reported that Abdulhakeem had been experiencing severe stomach pain and a cough.
He was subsequently transported to the general hospital in Minna for medical care but tragically succumbed while undergoing treatment, Abiodun said.
“On 19/12/2024 at about 5pm, the suspect, Fatiyah Abdulhakeem, complained of severe stomach pains and cough. He was taken to the general hospital, Minna for medical attention but unfortunately, he later died while receiving treatment.
“The corpse was deposited at the hospital morgue while awaiting postmortem result for further action,” the police mouthpiece stated.
Naijaonpoint reported a similar case recently where a 35-year-old man named Jimoh Abdulquadri died in police custody in Kwara State.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement over the weekend, saying it has initiated a discreet investigation into the unexpected incident.
The suspect, a resident of the Balogun Fulani community in Erubu/Asunnara, Ilorin, Kwara State, died in police custody during the early hours of Friday.
Reports indicate that he was arrested by police officers on December 19, 2024, for allegedly owing an individual named Peter a sum of ₦220,000, and he reportedly died the following day, December 20, 2024.
Family members of Abdulquadri, also known as Van de Sar, including his mother, Mrs Adijat Moriyike, and his elder brother, Ismail, have alleged that he was subjected to torture leading to his death.
The family has accused police personnel at the state police command headquarters of physically assaulting Jimoh, claiming that he sustained a head injury from a hard object, with blood reportedly flowing from his nose.