By Ahmed AHMED
Police Command in Bauchi State has arrested a 15 year old man for chopping off the hand of a farmer in Jital village, Bauchi local government area of the State.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the Command SP Ahmed Wakil, made available to Newsmen on Saturday in Bauchi.
He said police operatives have arrested the suspect Adamu Ibrahim of Jital village along Gombe road, Bauchi state for trespass, mischief and causing grievous hurt.
“A disagreement ensued, in the course of which the suspect stabbed the victim upon asking him to vacate his farmland.
“As a result, the victim’s left hand was chopped, the suspect drew his machete and chopped off the left hand of the victim.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on several occasions trespassed into the victim’s farmland with his cows while rearing,” he said.
The Spokesman explained that the unfortunate incident followed a series of complaints to the suspect’s father by the victim for intrusion into his rice farmland by the suspect.
“The investigation revealed that on the 24th of August, 2023, the suspect who was armed with a stick and machete, mischievously invaded the victim’s farmland and destroyed the yet-to-be-ascertained value of crops,” Wakil said.
According to him, on receiving this report, the operatives swung into action and activated more preventive measures to avert circumstances that may result in a herder-farmer clash in the area and arrest of the suspect.
“The victim was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for medical attention and he is responding to treatment,” he said
Meanwhile, Spokesman of the Command said the Commissioner of Police (CP) Auwal Mohammed has warned herders to steer clear from intrusion into farmlands in the state.
He said the CP directed that the suspect be charged to court upon completion of the discreet investigation.