Jigawa police arrest two suspects over fatal arson and stabbing cases

Police in Jigawa State have arrested two suspects over separate alleged arson and stabbing incidents that left two people dead in Gwaram and Dutse local government areas.

The command said the cases involved the death of Basiru Shuaibu after a fire at his home and the fatal stabbing of Muhammad Abba following a dispute over a N500 phone-payment balance.

In the Gwaram case, police alleged that Abbas Ibrahim, 27, entered Shuaibu’s home in Nassarawa village and poured petrol inside a room before setting it alight. Punch placed the incident at about 11:30pm on September 29, 2026.

Shuaibu, 25, and his wife suffered serious burns. According to the police account, relatives took them to a traditional medicine practitioner, where Shuaibu later died while receiving treatment. The reports did not give a final outcome for his wife.

Police said Ibrahim was arrested in Sara town and the case was being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse. Police said he had been arraigned in court.

In the second case, police accused Lawisi Safiyanu, 20, of stabbing Abba in Chamo village, Dutse, on October 1. They said Abba had bought a phone for N1,500 and paid N1,000, leaving N500 outstanding.

Abba was taken to Rashid Shekoni Teaching Hospital in Dutse, where he died while receiving treatment. Police said Safiyanu was arrested, the knife was recovered and the case had been charged to court.

Punch dated the police statement to Wednesday, while Daily Trust said it was issued on Tuesday, October 6. The incidents themselves occurred before those reports.

Commissioner of Police Tijjani Murtala urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and to report threats and disputes to police.

Sources: Punch, Daily Trust