The Sokoto State Police Command has launched an intensive investigation into a disturbing case of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, armed robbery, and possession of stolen property that recently shook the Sabon Birni community.
The incident occurred on the night of Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Sabon Birni town, Sokoto State.
According to an official statement from the Command, preliminary findings indicate that two suspects — Ashiru Iliyasu and Sulaiman Salihu, both male residents of Sabon Birni — allegedly plotted to lure one Kasimu Yahaya, a commercial motorcycle (Okada) operator, to a secluded, uncompleted building located on the outskirts of the town.
The suspects, reportedly armed with a hoe, deceived the unsuspecting rider under false pretenses, leading him to the isolated site around 9 p.m.
Upon arrival at the location, the duo allegedly attacked Yahaya with the hoe, inflicting fatal injuries that resulted in his death.
In a bid to conceal their heinous crime, the suspects are said to have dumped the victim’s body into a soakaway pit within the same premises. Subsequently, they made away with the deceased’s Bajaj motorcycle.
Further investigations revealed that after committing the murder and robbery, the suspects proceeded to sell the stolen motorcycle to one Sanusi Shu’aibu, another resident of Sabon Birni.
This led to the arrest of all three suspects — Ashiru Iliyasu, Sulaiman Salihu, and Sanusi Shu’aibu — by operatives of the Command.
During the course of interrogation, Iliyasu and Salihu reportedly confessed to their roles in the conspiracy, robbery, and brutal killing of Kasimu Yahaya.
However, the third suspect, Sanusi Shu’aibu, has denied any knowledge of the motorcycle being a stolen item, asserting his innocence regarding the charge of receiving stolen property.
The Police Command emphasized that the case remains under active investigation, being handled by the Anti-Homicide Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
Investigators are meticulously working to collect further evidence, verify the suspects’ statements, and establish a comprehensive account of the circumstances surrounding the crime.
In its appeal to the public, the Command urged anyone with credible information about the incident, the suspects’ movements, or the victim’s activities on the day in question to come forward.
Such information can be shared confidentially at any nearby police station or through the designated police hotlines. The authorities stressed that public cooperation is crucial to ensuring that justice is served and that all those involved are held accountable.