Despite a midnight curfew imposed by the Gombe state government, a group of armed assailants, believed to be robbers, has killed Reverend Buba Galadima.
Reverend Buba Galadima is the the pastor of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Lubo, a community in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The attack took place in the early hours of Sunday when the gunmen stormed the pastor’s residence.
Reports indicate that Reverend Galadima was shot in the upper back while attempting to escape.
Confirming the incident, Gombe State Police Command spokesperson Babari Abdallahi identified it as a robbery that led to the pastor’s death.
He explained that the gunmen broke into the house at night, possibly with the intent to steal, and fired at the pastor as he tried to flee.
Following the attack, Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Bello Yahaya, visited the hospital where the pastor’s remains were taken.
He has since deployed a special police squad to track down those responsible. Yahaya assured the public that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to justice.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the commissioner personally visited the federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe, where he stayed antil 5 a.m. to assess the situation.
He has also dispatched a team of skilled officers to the crime scene and expressed confidence that the case will be thoroughly investigated.
Abdallahi dismissed speculation that the attack was linked to banditry, stating that Gombe State has no record of such activities.
He further announced the launch of a special operation aimed at apprehending the criminals.
When asked about security measures, Abdullahi clarified that the nighttime movement restriction enforced by the police only applies to Gombe metropolis, though the commissioner has now directed all Area Commands to strengthen security enforcement.
A resident of Lubo, speaking anonymously, recounted that the attackers arrived around 1 a.m., firing shots to signal their presence.
The gunmen initially went to the ECWA church before proceeding to another compound, where they stole #300,000.
Afterward, they asked for the pastor’s residence, which was nearby, and upon finding him, shot him in the upper back.
The killing has left the community in mourning, with residents gripped by fear as they struggle to come to terms with the tragic event.