Thirteen years after six National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were gruesomely murdered in post-election violence in Giade, Bauchi State, Nigeria, the Bauchi State Police Command has arrested the alleged ringleader responsible for the crime.
The incident, which also saw the murder of a female police officer and another civilian, took place following the announcement of the 2011 Presidential Election result. The police revealed that it took a decade-long manhunt to track down the suspect, Kabiru Musa, alias Dawa, due to his notoriety and the reluctance of locals to provide information out of fear for their safety.
During a briefing at the Bauchi police headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State, Auwal Muhammad, provided details of the 2011 incident. He stated, “On 18th April 2011, between 12:30 and 1:00 pm, a group of youth led by Kabiru Musa, alias Dawa, stormed the Giade Divisional Police Headquarters following the announcement of the 2011 Presidential Election result.
They were armed with dangerous weapons, including a knife called ‘Barandami,’ cutlasses, sticks, and petrol (PMS), and attacked Police Constable Rifkatu Bappa, who was on counter duty at the charge room. As a result, she sustained various degrees of injuries and was immediately evacuated to FMC Azare, where she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.”
The commissioner further stated that Dawa and his gang members set ablaze a motor vehicle, a Toyota Starlet, belonging to Mr. Peter Okoye, which was kept for safekeeping during the peak of the attack. Dawa also attacked Bridget Peter Okoye, cutting off her fingers, while the fire from the burning vehicle spread and burned down the station, leading to the gruesome murder of six NYSC members who were at the station for safety.
Despite attempts by the NYSC members to flee, Dawa and his syndicate pursued and murdered them. The breakthrough in Dawa’s capture came during an investigation into a separate case of alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide involving him and another individual.
Dawa had been arraigned in court for allegedly killing a 17-year-old girl on 26th April 2024, and dumping her body in a well. It was during this investigation that his identity was revealed as the suspect behind the 2011 NYSC members’ deaths.
The police have confirmed that the suspect will be arraigned in court based on the findings of the investigation.
