Tenant kills, buries landlord in shallow grave in Niger
The Niger State Police Command has apprehended a 34-year-old man, Maaruf Sarki, for allegedly killing and burying his landlord, Tasiu Shittu, in a shallow grave in the Kontagora Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammad Abubakar, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, adding that Sarki also stole N1.7m and an unregistered Honda car from the deceased.
Abubakar said the suspect fled to Sokoto after committing the crime but was arrested by detectives from his hideout.
Parading Sarki along with 11 other kidnap and robbery suspects, the police spokesman said Sarki buried Shittu in an apartment in Kontagora.
He explained that the apartment was rented out to the suspect by the deceased, adding that Sarki led detectives to the shallow grave.
Abubakar noted that the body had been exhumed for autopsy.
The suspect said that he was paid N2m to kill his landlord.
He added that he used local herbs to poison the victim.
He said, “I used local herbs to kill the man. I buried him inside the house which I rented from him. I was hired to kill him by one of his business associates. I regret my action.”
However, the business associate was said to be on the run.
The police also paraded one Ayuba John, who allegedly specialised in producing firearms for a five-man robbery and kidnapping gang in the state.
According to the police, the gang was involved in many cases of robbery and stealing of motorcycles in the Lapia area of the state.
The police spokesperson said the gang recently stole a motorcycle from one Alhaji Dingi Bako and collected N400,000 from the victim after threatening to kidnap him.
