Two arrested for killing tricycle rider in Niger state

Two suspects who allegedly killed a tricycle rider in Suleja, headquarters of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger state have been arrested by the police. 

The suspects have been identified as 22-year-old Sunday Paul of Timber-shed, Suleja and 33-year-old Bali Joshua of Kwamba area, Suleja and they were arrested in connection with the culpable homicide of one Boniface Chinanwa, 45 years of Morocco Road, Suleja.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said a third suspect (at large), Zingfa Selchak, had contracted the arrested suspects over his intention to snatch the tricycle from the owner and begged for their assistance in carrying out this dastardly act.

The statement read; 

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that on 17/05/2023 at about 1900hrs that they were invited by one Zingfa Selchak of the same address but presently at large. He briefed them on his intention to snatch a tricycle and that he needed their assistance to perpetrate the act.

“He took them to somewhere along Kwamba Road, opposite Timber-shed, and told them to wait for him. Shortly, he appeared with a tricycle rider, whom he deceitfully contracted to convey some goods for him.“They jointly moved to a nearby corner with the rider pretending to start packing the goods into the tricycle. Suddenly, the said Zingfa placed a cable on the neck of the rider from the rear and strangulated him to death with the help of Bali while Sunday tied the hands of the victim.”

The suspects also searched the victim, stole his phone and other valuables in his possession. Zingfa drove the tricycle to an unknown destination while Bali and Sunday dropped the body of the deceased by the roadside where it was discovered the following morning.

Following a tip-off on May 23, Police operatives attached to ‘A’ Division, Suleja arrested the two suspects. Abiodun said the suspects have been transferred to SCID Minna for further investigation, adding that effort has been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect and to also recover the tricycle with other valuables stolen.