The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Samuel Shegun, for the brutal murder of his mother, Esther Adekanla.
Adekanla, a restaurant owner, popularly known as Hadiza Nakowa, was found dead in her house in Dutse town on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Her 11-year-old daughter, Christiana, was found unconscious in a locked storage room.
Briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Dutse on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the State Commissioner of Police CP AT Abdullahi, said the suspect was arrested after detectives tracked the deceased woman’s phone number.
According to the commissioner, the suspect claimed that he was trying to rescue his sister from the deceased, who was holding a knife when they all “fell and she cut herself on the neck with the said knife.”
“On 16/02/2024 Detectives from State Criminal Investigation Department Dutse (SCID), arrested one Samuel Shegun ‘m’ age 32yrs of opposite Awajil filling Station Dutse, in connection with the case of brutal killing of his mother one Esther Adekanla ‘f’ of the same address. The suspect was arrested via tracking of the deceased phone number, which linked him to the offence,” the CP stated.
“Recall that, on 15/02/2024 at about 1600hrs, information at Command’s disposal revealed that, one Esther Adekanla ‘f’ of opposite Awajil Filling Station Dutse, popularly known as Hadiza Nakowa was last seen on 12/02/2024, which made her neighbors suspicious of her being missing, as all efforts made to reach her phone lines proved abortive.
“On receipt of the report, detectives from Dutse Division quickly rushed to the house, on their arrival, it was discovered that the house was locked, but the door was forced open, where her body was found in the sitting room, lying lifeless in a pool of blood.
“The team also observed visible cuts on her head and neck with the body decomposing. Similarly, her young house help one Christiana Michael ‘F’ age 11yrs, was found locked in a store with cuts on her head alive, but unconscious.
“Photographs were immediately taken by detectives, while the corpse and the victim were rushed to Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital for further medical examination and treatment of the injured house help.
“She was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. But later, the corpse was conveyed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) for autopsy.
“On interrogation, the suspect disclosed that, on 12/02/2024 at about 2200hrs, his mother returned back from where she sells food, and that she started fighting with the young girl, Christiana Michael ‘f’ to the extent that she held a knife. In his effort to rescue the girl, he dragged her back when they all fell, she cut herself on the neck with the said knife.
“When he realized the gravity of the offence committed and he didn’t want to be called by the security operatives, he decided to steal her phones, lock the house and move far away from the area.
“He once put his SIM card inside the phone but later disposed of it to an unknown person.
“The little girl, who is recuperating from various injuries sustained, is still under medical care and responding to treatment.”
