(Dauda. Photo by Daily Trust)
Residents of Karofin Madaki quarters in Bauchi metropolis were left in shock and mourning following the k!lling of a well-known Islamiyyah teacher in the area, Rilwanu Dauda.
Dauda, 42, was allegedly k!lled on Sunday by two brothers suspected to be political thugs, following a disagreement over political posters.
It was gathered that Dauda was stabbed in the stomach with a knife and died on his way to the hospital.
The trouble reportedly began around 10am that day after the deceased asked the thugs to take down political posters pasted on a billboard beside his family house.
The thugs turned down his request, leading to a physical confrontation.
According to the deceased’s elder brother, Hamza Dauda, the younger of the two thugs struck Malam with a stick, while the elder one hit him with a knife on the head.
He said Malam immediately collapsed, and bystanders intervened, forcing the thugs to leave the scene.
He explained that the younger thug then crossed the road into his family house, and a few minutes later returned holding a knife.
He met the deceased at the main gate and stabbed him in the stomach before fleeing.
Hamza said some people saw the attacker sneak away after the stabbing, and it was only after he left that they realised his brother was bleeding from the injury.
He said the victim was rushed to the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, where he was confirmed dead, having died on the way.
He recounted that he was at his workplace when a friend, Babangida, called to inform him that his younger brother had died and asked him to come to the hospital.
On arrival, he said he checked the body and saw where he had been stabbed in the stomach.
He described Malam as someone who never quarrelled with others, lamenting how he was brutally k!lled for no reason.
Hamza called on the government and the police to arrest those responsible and ensure justice is served, stressing that Malam was not a troublesome person and was k!lled unjustly, and that the family wants the perpetrators arrested and made to face the consequences of their actions.
When our correspondent visited the deceased’s family house, sympathisers were still arriving four days after the incident to offer condolences.
Residents who spoke on the matter described the late cleric as humble, kind, humane, and a gentleman.
One resident, Muhammad Aminu, called the incident unfortunate, wondering why people no longer value human life, noting that people now k!ll over slight provocations.
He said something needs to be done to prevent such occurrences from happening again.
He said youths no longer value life, adding that at the slightest provocation, someone ends up being k!lled.
He said he didn’t believe the news of Malam’s death until it was confirmed by three different people, since Malam was not someone one would expect to be caught up in such a confrontation.
He suggested that those responsible may have held a grudge against the deceased prior to the incident, noting that the fight had already ended after people intervened, so there was no reason for one of the thugs to return and stab him unless there was a prior grievance.
He described the late Malam Rilwanu as a kind and humane cleric who related well with people, was religious and generous, and was rarely seen in the area except when visiting his family house, as he resided with his family along Ibrahim Bako Road.
Another resident, Musa Yusuf, described the cleric’s death as a great loss, not just to his immediate family, but to the entire community of Karofin Madaki and Bauchi State as a whole.
A neighbour of the deceased, Bello Ibrahim, said the thugs had called a colleague who came to the scene and proceeded to paste the poster, which led to a heated argument.
He said it was at that point that one of the thugs brought out a dagger, stabbed the late Ridwan in the chest, and fled.
He said residents rushed out, picked him up, and took him to the hospital, but he died on the way.
Another resident, Sani Musa, described Rilwanu as a nice gentleman and an Islamiyya teacher from a decent family background who was hardworking and dedicated to providing for his family.
Governor Bala visits deceased’s family
Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed visited the deceased’s family to commiserate with them.
The governor pledged to take responsibility for the education of the deceased’s children from primary school through university.
He said perpetrators of violent crimes anywhere in the state would have no hiding place, as the government intensifies efforts to protect the lives and property of innocent, law-abiding citizens.
He noted that his administration remains committed to maintaining law and order across the state to safeguard the lives and property of innocent citizens.
He described the incident as a tragic loss and assured the bereaved family that justice would be pursued without fear or favour through due process, and that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
He added that while Bauchi State has continued to intensify efforts to combat b@nditry and other security threats affecting some rural communities, his administration is equally determined to tackle criminal activities within the state capital and other urban areas to ensure the safety of all residents.
The governor urged citizens to remain law-abiding and avoid resorting to violence in resolving disputes, and called on members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to aid ongoing investigations and strengthen crime prevention efforts.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mallam Bala Dauda thanked the governor for the visit and for the support extended to them in their time of grief.
Similarly, the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Bauchi State, Dr Yakubu Adamu, paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family, expressing sympathy over the loss and praying for the repose of the deceased’s soul.
Police begin investigation
Confirming the incident, the Bauchi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Nafi’u Habib, said police had commenced investigations, stressing that no stone would be left unturned until the k!llers of the cleric are arrested, and that they would not relent until all those involved are apprehended.
Asked whether any arrests had been made, the police spokesperson said none had been made at the time but assured that the culprits would surely be arrested and brought to justice.
He urged the public to always report crimes in their communities to the appropriate authorities, noting that useful information from the public helps minimise crime in society, and that citizens should feel free to report crimes to the police, as the fight against crime is everyone’s responsibility.
Ex-CP blames drug abuse
Commenting on the rise in mur#er cases, a retired Police Commissioner, Muhammad Wakil, attributed the trend to poor moral upbringing, drug abuse, illiteracy, and hatred, among other vices.
CP Wakil, popularly known as Singham, said it is unfortunate that the majority of youths are into drug abuse, adding that their level of illiteracy also contributes to the problem.
He said most youths are school dropouts who also lack Islamic knowledge and a sound background, noting that such a generation can be persuaded with little money to commit any crime.
He said an empty mind can lead to all sorts of crimes, listing drug abuse, lack of moral upbringing, peer influence, broken homes, and lack of generosity among neighbours as key factors behind the rise in mur#er cases, especially among youths.
He expressed confidence that if people reflect on how earlier generations lived and embrace the culture of brotherhood, such vices would disappear within a short time.