A 15-year-old herder, Adamu Ibrahim, has been arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command for allegedly cutting off the hand of a farmer.
During a quarrel over incursion into the victim’s field, the suspect struck him.
The police command spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
The statement read, “Operatives of the Area Command Metro have arrested one Adamu Ibrahim of Jital village along Gombe Road, Bauchi State, for trespass, mischief and causing grievous hurt.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on several occasions trespassed into the victim’s farmland with his cows while rearing.
“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.
“Similarly, the investigation revealed that on August 24, 2023, the suspect, who was armed with a stick and a machete, mischievously invaded the victim’s farmland and destroyed the yet-to-be-ascertained value of crops.
“A disagreement ensued, in the course of which the suspect stabbed the victim upon asking him to vacate his farmland. The suspect drew his machete and chopped off the left hand of the victim.”
It stated further, “On receiving this report, the Area Commander, Metropolitan, swung into action and activated more preventive measures to avert circumstances that may result in a herder-farmer clash in the area and equally directed the 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.
“Therefore, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, while warning herders to steer clear from intrusion into farmlands in the state, directed that the suspect be charged upon the completion of the discreet investigation.”