The Nigerian police have arrested a 19-year-old boy, Muhammad Ibrahim for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend, Emmanuelle Ande, to death, to escape paying N5000 debt he owed her.
Ibrahim stabbed Ande on December 18, 2023 in Bauchi, the Bauchi state capital, according to police information.
The spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil stated this in a crime bulletin made available to journalists on Wednesday.
He said "On 18/12/2023 at about 1900hrs, detectives attached to the Operations Restore Peace (ORP) arrested one Muhammad Ibrahim ‘m’ age 19yrs of Sabon Layi Kano Road Bauchi in connection with a case of gruesome murder of Emmanuella Ande.
"The arrest of the suspect was made following a distress call received from a good Samaritan on the same date at about 1845hrs the accused (Muhammad Ibrahim) entered a hotel room of Happiness Garden situated at Bayan Gari where he stabbed his girlfriend Emmanuella Ande ‘f’ of Jos Plateau State, around her upper chest region.
"At that point, the victim screamed and the people around attempted to rescue her by forcing the door opened where the accused additionally stabbed one Zaharaddeen Adamu ‘m’ age 36yrs of Makera area Bauchi on his left hand."
It was further learnt that it took the timely arrival of the police to save Ibrahim from mob action, as irate youths mobilised to lynch him.
“On receipt of the report, a team of detectives led by the Officer in charge of Operation Restore Peace swiftly swung into action, rescued the accused, and evacuated the victim to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi where she was certified dead by a medical practitioner and her corpse was deposited at the mortuary”, SP Wakil added.
He stated that Zaharadeen who got stabbed while trying to rescue the girl was admitted and treated at the Police Clinic, and had been discharged.
SP Wakil further disclosed that he murdered his girlfriend because she demanded the sum of N5000 which he (suspect) owed her.
“In the process, a heated argument ensued between them which led to a physical confrontation where the victim sustained serious injuries which led to her death," Wakil said.
SP Wakil who noted that a knife was recovered from the suspect as exhibit, adding that "investigation is ongoing, after which he would be charged to court."