By Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
Residents of Karofin Madaki quarters in Bauchi metropolis have been thrown into shock and mourning following the killing of a 42-year-old Islamic teacher, Rilwanu Dauda, allegedly during a dispute over political posters.
Dauda was reportedly stabbed on Sunday by one of two brothers suspected to be political thugs following an altercation over posters pasted on a billboard near his family home.
He was rushed to the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital but was confirmed dead after reportedly dying on the way.
The incident was said to have occurred at about 10 a.m. after the deceased asked the suspects to remove political posters pasted on a billboard adjacent to his family house.
According to the deceased’s elder brother, Hamza Dauda, the disagreement escalated into a fight before residents intervened.
“The younger of the two thugs hit Malam with a stick, while the elder attacked him with a knife. People around intervened and forced them to leave the scene,” Hamza alleged.
He said one of the suspects later returned with a knife and allegedly stabbed his brother in the stomach before fleeing.
“It was only after he left that people realised my brother was bleeding. He was rushed to the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, where he was confirmed dead. He died on the way to the hospital,” he said.
Hamza described the deceased as a peaceful man who rarely quarrelled with anyone and called on the government and security agencies to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
“I want justice in this matter. Everybody knows Malam was not troublesome, and he was killed unjustly. His family wants justice. The killers should be arrested and made to face the consequences of their actions,” he said.
When our correspondent visited the family home four days after the incident, sympathisers were still trooping in to offer condolences.
Residents described the late cleric as humble, kind, generous and committed to his religious duties.
One resident, Muhammad Aminu, described the killing as unfortunate and expressed concern over what he called the declining value placed on human life.
“I wonder why people no longer value human life. People can kill over the slightest provocation. This is unfortunate, and something must be done to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
Another resident, Musa Yusuf, described Dauda’s death as a great loss not only to his immediate family but also to the Karofin Madaki community and Bauchi State.
A neighbour, Bello Ibrahim, gave a slightly different account of the incident, alleging that an argument broke out when another person arrived to paste a political poster. He said the disagreement escalated before the deceased was stabbed and the assailant fled.
Another resident, Sani Musa, described Dauda as a hardworking Islamic teacher from a respected family who was dedicated to providing for his household.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, visited the deceased’s family to offer condolences and pledged to take responsibility for the education of the deceased’s children from primary school through university.
The governor warned that perpetrators of violent crimes would have no hiding place in the state, assuring residents that his administration would intensify efforts to safeguard lives and property.
He described the killing as a tragic loss and assured the bereaved family that justice would be pursued without fear or favour and in accordance with due process.
The governor said anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
He noted that while the state government continued to tackle banditry and other security threats in some rural communities, it was equally determined to address criminal activities in Bauchi metropolis and other urban areas.
The governor urged residents to remain law-abiding and avoid resorting to violence in resolving disputes. He also called on members of the public to provide security agencies with credible information that could aid investigations and crime prevention.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mallam Bala Dauda thanked the governor for the visit and support extended to the family during its period of grief.
The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement in Bauchi State, Dr Yakubu Adamu, also paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family, expressing sympathy over the loss and praying for the repose of the deceased.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, ASP Nafi’u Habib, said an investigation had commenced.
“No stone will be left unturned in the course of our investigation until the killers of the cleric are arrested. We will not relent until we arrest them all,” he said.
Asked whether any arrests had been made, the police spokesperson said none had been recorded at the time but assured that the suspects would be apprehended and brought to justice.
He urged members of the public to report crimes and provide useful information to the police.
“The fight against crime is everybody’s responsibility. People should always help us with useful information so that we can act accordingly,” he said.
Commenting on the rise in murder cases, retired Commissioner of Police Muhammad Wakil, popularly known as “Singham,” attributed the trend to drug abuse, poor moral upbringing, illiteracy, peer pressure and broken homes.
“It is unfortunate that many of our youths are involved in drug abuse, while illiteracy is also a contributing factor,” Wakil said.
He argued that school dropout rates, lack of moral guidance and drug abuse had made some young people vulnerable to criminal activities.
According to him, addressing poor upbringing, substance abuse and the erosion of community values could help reduce violent crime.
“We should reflect on how our forefathers lived and imbibe the culture of brotherhood. If we do, these vices will surely reduce,” he said.
