The Gombe State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects linked to the tragic death of Abdussamad Musa, a 200-level Criminology and Security Studies student at the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State.
Buhari Abdullahi, the command’s spokesman, confirmed the arrests to the News men in Gombe on Friday. He noted that four additional suspects involved in the incident are still at large.
The incident, which stemmed from a heated argument over football, occurred off campus on Tuesday night. A knife used in the stabbing was recovered and is being used as evidence.
Abdullahi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, reported that an investigation is underway, and the case will be prosecuted once completed. Efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects are ongoing.
The police have implemented measures to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of lives and property, following directives from the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman.
The police spokesperson urged the youth and residents of Gombe State to be cautious about public discussions, particularly those conducted in tense environments.
He emphasised that football should serve as a form of entertainment rather than a catalyst for violence and urged young people to avoid arguments that could lead to chaos and conflict.
Janet Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal University of Kashere, told NAN that the incident occurred around 7 pm on Tuesday.
She explained that the disagreement, which initially seemed minor, escalated after a football match between two groups. Although the initial disagreement was resolved amicably, one group later attacked the compound where the deceased resided, leading to a fatal altercation.
Musa was stabbed in the neck and rushed to the general hospital in Kashere, where he succumbed to excessive bleeding.
Ibrahim mentioned that the deceased’s parents were notified and participated in his funeral on Wednesday at 2 pm. She assured that normalcy has returned to the affected community. While the university cannot control off-campus activities, it is working closely with security agencies and community leaders to ensure the safety of students living off campus.
