A 40-year-old man, Ibrahim Umar, has been arrested for allegedly killing two casual workers in Taranka Village in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, for ritual purpose.

The Suspect, a resident of Dankunkuru Village in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, was suspected to have come to the said Taranka village for charcoal business, and in the course of his stay, the two persons went missing.

Residents of the village were said to have suspected Umar of being responsible for their disappearance.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, stated these in a statement made available to journalists in the state on Tuesday.

Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said that the suspect was promptly arrested by police operatives when they received the report of the incident.

He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, condemned the gruesome killing of the two casual workers and appealed for calm.

He warned the people of the state to desist from posting unverified stories on social media, which could cause chaos in the society, assuring that justice would take its course.

“On September 10, 2023, at about 9.58am, one Adamu Mohammed, male (57) of Taranka village, Gamawa LGA, Bauchi State, reported at Gamawa Divisional Police Headquarters, that about one month ago, one Kabiru Idi, male (36) and Bato Ali, male (18), both of the same address, were missing.

“One Ibrahim Umar, male (40) of Dankunkuru village Ungogo LGA Kano State, who came to the said Taranka village for charcoal business was suspected to have perfected the abduction and disappearance of the aforementioned persons.

“On receipt of the report, a team of detectives were quickly drafted to the scene and eventually arrested the suspect.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to have killed and buried the two casual workers in a shallow grave around the outskirts of the town. Consequently, the requisite coroner’s form was filled and the bodies were exhumed from the said grave for discreet Investigation. These bodies were established to be those of the missing persons and are certified dead by a medical practitioner.

“Thereafter, the Command handed over the corpses to the relatives for burial according to their respective religious rites. Investigation further uncovered that the accused killed the two persons in a bid to make ritual money out of their dead bodies,” the CP said.

Wakil further stated that a search at the house of the suspect led to the discovery of human blood.