The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old petty trader, Mamuda Zakari Yau, popularly known as Wadata, for allegedly killing a commercial motorcyclist, Basiru Mohammed, in an attempt to steal his motorcycle to raise money for his planned wedding to a third wife.
In a statement released on Friday, October 17, 2025, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, confirmed the arrest and described the incident as “a tragic act driven by greed and desperation.”
According to the police statement, the incident occurred on Thursday, October 16, following a distress call from a vigilant resident of Unguwan Dr. Sulaiman Adamu Quarters, near the old Airport area in Bauchi.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had hired the deceased, a 25-year-old resident of Zango Sa’idawa, for a commercial trip within Bauchi metropolis. Along the way, an argument reportedly ensued between the two men, leading to a violent struggle during which Yau allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife. He then attempted to flee the scene with the victim’s red Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, bearing registration number NNG 813 UM.
Despite his injuries, the victim managed to raise an alarm before collapsing, attracting the attention of nearby residents. The alarm triggered a chase, forcing the suspect to abandon the stolen motorcycle and escape on foot.
A police patrol team from ‘E’ Division, Yelwa, immediately responded to the distress call and arrived at the scene. The victim was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), where medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival. His body has been deposited at the hospital’s morgue for autopsy.
Detectives conducting a search of the crime scene recovered several exhibits, including the blood-stained knife used in the attack, a pair of shoes, the red motorcycle, and an Android phone belonging to the suspect. Using digital tracking and intelligence gathered from the device, the police successfully traced and arrested Yau at his hideout within the Bauchi metropolis.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, admitting that his motive was to sell the stolen motorcycle to raise money for his forthcoming marriage to a third wife. He told investigators that financial hardship pushed him to commit the act, describing his actions as a “mistake made out of frustration.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Sani-Omolori, has commended the swift response of the command’s officers and the vigilance of members of the public who assisted in tracking the suspect. He has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution.
The Police Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station to help curb violent crimes in the state.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased, friends, and colleagues in the commercial motorcycle union have expressed shock and grief over the incident, describing Basiru as a hardworking young man who was dedicated to his job.
Comments
Post a Comment