The family of Alhaji Muhammad Umar is demanding justice following the tragic death of their 30-year-old son, Abdulkareem Muhammad, a herder who was fatally attacked by a mob in Kago Village, located in the Egbak District of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.
They have firmly rejected claims labeling Abdulkareem as a suspected criminal.
Reports indicate that on September 10, two individuals-a police-escort-injured-as-gunmen-attack-ex-sports-ministers-home-in-plateau/” title=”Woman k!lled, … escort injured as gunmen attack ex-sports minister…s home in Plateau”>police officer and a herder-were mistakenly identified as motorcycle thieves and subsequently killed by a mob in the same vicinity.
Speaking to journalists in Jos, the state capital, Abdulkareem’s father recounted the harrowing experience and insisted that the mob’s actions were intentional and unjustified.
He appealed to the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Adesina, to thoroughly investigate the incident and deliver justice for his son, as well as support for the widow and their child left behind.
According to the father, prior to the incident, Abdulkareem had informed him about a dispute involving a police officer who accused his cattle of damaging the officer’s crops.
He refuted these allegations, stating they were baseless, and noted that local community leaders had already initiated efforts to mediate and resolve the conflict peacefully.
Umar described his son’s killing as a premeditated act and urged authorities to probe the police officer who ordered his arrest.
He stressed that any apprehension should have been conducted by the Bassa police under the supervision of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). “My son was innocent,” he asserted.
“There has never been any complaint against him regarding criminal behavior. He was known in the community for his honest livelihood. We call on the Police Commissioner to ensure a thorough investigation. Abdulkareem left behind a wife and child-who will care for them now?”
Legal counsel B.H. Ibrahim, who also spoke with the press, revealed that Abdulkareem had confided in him about threats to his life from a police officer.
Ibrahim disclosed that he had already filed a case at High Court 3, Kasuwan Nama, Jos, and was en route to Jos for a case briefing when the fatal incident occurred.
“As he was traveling, someone shouted ‘motorcycle thief,’ and tragically, both Abdulkareem and a police officer who had unlawfully attempted to arrest him were killed. This is a grievous loss. We urge the Commissioner of Police to investigate the officer who made the false farm destruction claim and to ensure justice is served for the family,” the lawyer stated.
