Niger State Police Command has apprehended Maaruf Sarki, 34, for allegedly killing his landlord, Tasiu Shittu, after which he buried him in shallow grave in Kontagora Local Government Area of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammad Abubakar, confirmed this on Wednesday, adding that Sarki also stole N1.7m from the deceased, including an unregistered Honda car.
Abubakar said the suspect fled to Sokoto after committing the crime but was arrested by detectives from his hideout.
Parading Sarki along with 11 suspected kidnappers and robbery suspects, the spokesman said Sarki killed and buried one Tasiu Shittu, in shallow grave inside a rented apartment in Kontagora.
He explained that the apartment was rented out to the suspect by the deceased, adding that the suspect has led detectives to the shallow grave and that the body has been exhumed for autopsy.
Sarki told our correspondent that he was hired to kill his landlord by a business associate at the cost of N2m, adding that he administered local herbs to poison his victi
He said, “I used local medicine to kill the man and buried him inside the house that I rented from him.
“I was hired to kill him by one of his business associates. I regret the action.”
The business associate is said to be on the run.
The Police also paraded one Ayuba John who reportedly specialise in fabricating local firearms linked to five-man robbery and kidnap gang in the state.
According to him, the gang was involved in several cases of robbery and stealing of motorcycles within Lapia area of the state.
He said the gang recently stole a motorcycle from one Dingi Alhaji Bako and collected N400,000 from the victim after threatening to kidnap him.
