An 18-year-old murder suspect, fatiyah Abdulbakeem, accused of killing retired Permanent Secretary Adama Jagaba in Niger State, has died while in police custody.
Abdulhakeem reportedly passed away on Thursday after complaining of severe stomach pain and coughing.
Despite being taken to the general hospital in Minna for treatment, he succumbed while receiving medical care.
The cause of death remains unknown, and his body has been deposited in the hospital morgue pending the outcome of a postmortem examination.
The Niger State Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident. Abdulhakeem had recently been paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Shawuli Ebenezer Danmama, in connection with Jagaba’s brutal killing.
Jagaba was stabbed to death on December 7, 2024, at his block industry near the POP Secretariat in Minna.
During a police parade, Abdulhakeem admitted to the crime, claiming he was hired by the deceased’s employees to carry out the murder.
In a video confession, Abdulhakeem detailed how workers in the block industry, identified as Abata Love and Baba Soyaya, orchestrated the attack by providing key information about Jagaba’s schedule.
Abdulhakeem, along with his accomplices, waited at the site before he personally approached Jagaba, pretending to assist with a task.
While engaging the victim in conversation, Abdulhakeem seized an opportunity to stab him in the neck and strike his head with a stapler.
He then fled with Jagaba’s car, a Toyota Camry, intending to sell it for N4 million. Despite initial plans, Abdulhakeem expressed regret, claiming he had never killed before and that his gang usually targeted victims for theft rather than murder.
The police launched an immediate investigation, leading to Abdulhakeem’s arrest.
Meanwhile, efforts to capture his accomplices are ongoing.
The Niger State Police Command has assured the public of its commitment to uncovering the full details of the case and ensuring justice for the deceased.