This year’s
Sallah celebration turned sour in Zuru, Kebbi State, following the
assassination of Mrs. Saratu Bamaiyi, elder sister of the former Chief of Army
Staff, Lt-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd) and her granddaughter.
The
75-year-old Saratu, according to an online news medium, Daily Post, was hit and
killed with a pestle by unknown persons alongside her 12-year-old
granddaughter.
Their
remains were dragged and dumped in a well.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ishaku Bariu, who confirmed this to journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, said the incident occurred between 3p.m. and 4p.m. at her residence at Zuru Centre Zuru, in Zuru Local Government Area of the state.
Also speaking on the incident, the Police Area Commander, Zuru Area Command, Mr. Abdu Wada, said security had been beefed up in the area.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ishaku Bariu, who confirmed this to journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, said the incident occurred between 3p.m. and 4p.m. at her residence at Zuru Centre Zuru, in Zuru Local Government Area of the state.
Also speaking on the incident, the Police Area Commander, Zuru Area Command, Mr. Abdu Wada, said security had been beefed up in the area.
“We have
beefed up security with foot, motorcycle and vehicle patrol. People are going
about their lawful businesses as investigation into the unfortunate killing of
Mama and her granddaughter continues,” he said.
In his
sermon, Liman Sule Tanko at the GRA praying ground, Zuru, prayed for peace and
security and the repose of the soul of Mama, as she was fondly called, and her
granddaughter as well as those killed in the current insurgency in the North-east.
“She and her
granddaughter were murdered and then dragged into the well inside the compound.
I don’t think it was by the use of gun. They used a pestle to attack them.
“It appears
not to be murder for robbery because she was having some money in her handbag,
money from sales in her provision store outside the house.
“The bag
containing the money was also dumped with the bodies inside the well. We also
discovered wraps of money possibly for contribution in the house because she
was a woman leader in the community. The unspecified amount of wrapped money
was not touched.
“So that
made us think that it was not robbery that led to that but probably
assassination. But we are investigating the unfortunate incident,” the CP
added.