The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has taken into custody a suspect named Shaibu Ibrahim on charges of fatally assaulting an individual whom he had mistakenly identified as a car thief.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, CP Haruna Garba, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, revealed that the victim had made an unsuccessful attempt to unlock the suspect’s vehicle, as he had mistakenly believed it to be that of his employer.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the police have uncovered that the accused and the individual who had sent Benjamin (the deceased) to retrieve a charger from his car both possessed Toyota Camry vehicles of a similar model and color, which happened to be parked near each other.
According to CP Haruna Garba, “On September 23, 2023, at approximately 9:15 pm, Mohammed Rabiu of Nyanya reported to the Karmo Division that at approximately 9:05 pm on the same day, his associate Benjamin was attacked and repeatedly stabbed by Shaibu Ibrahim after being sent to retrieve a phone charger from his car.”
The CP continued, stating that “The Karmo Division police officers swiftly responded to the incident, transporting the victim to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The suspect was apprehended, and the offensive weapon, a jack knife, was recovered from his possession.”
The initial investigation has indicated that due to the similar appearance of their vehicles, the deceased mistakenly believed that the suspect’s car belonged to the individual who had sent him, prompting him to attempt to open the door. Without seeking clarification, the suspect immediately attacked him.