The prime suspect in the killing of an Igbo trader at Kofar Wambai in Kano State has been arrested, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has announced.
Ganduje, who spoke at the end of a stakeholders meeting in Kano early on Saturday, gave the name of the suspect as Alhaji Dauda and promised that justice will be done in the case.
Bridget Agbahime was killed by a mob which accused her of blasphemy.
Participants at the meeting chaired by Ganduje unanimously described the killing of 74-year-old Mrs. Agbahime as illegal, unfortunate and regrettable.
Those at the meeting include Kano State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Ransome Bello; husband to the deceased, Mike Agbahime; Islamic leaders and security agencies.
A statement by Ganduje’s media aide, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, said the governor thanked security agencies for dousing tension in the state.
Ganduje assured the stakeholders that security operatives would unmask all those involved in the murder with a view to prosecuting them.
He said that all the stakeholders had unanimously agreed that the killing was uncalled for and totally condemned the action.
The stakeholders also agreed that justice must be done.
“The Council of Ulamas and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leadership have also been urged to publicly condemn the barbaric act in the media,” he said.
The governor also urged the religious leaders to intensify efforts in enlightening the general public on the dangers of taking laws into their hands.
He promised that the state government would assist the family of the deceased to prepare for the burial arrangements.
Ganduje thanked the security agencies in the state for their prompt action and the role they played in ensuring peace.
In his remarks, Bello said that the Christian body was satisfied with the resolutions taken at the meeting.
He also commended the governor for the wonderful wisdom and promised to convey the message to his people within and outside Kano State.
“There is nothing better any person would expect more than what you (the governor) have done tonight,” the CAN chairman said.
While urging the people of the state to remain calm, Bello said with the steps taken by the state government, peace had returned to the state and that the stakeholders meeting was the beginning of the end of committing dastardly acts such as killings in Kano.
Eze Ndigbo of Kano, Boniface Ibekwe, called on all civil and community leaders to cooperate in ensuring lasting peace.
Ibekwe urged other governors in Nigeria to emulate Ganduje’s example in ensuring brotherly co-existence in their states.
Also speaking, Sheikh Abdulwahab Abdalla, who spoke on behalf of the council of Ulamas, condemned the act which he described also as anti-Islamic and barbaric.
He further commended the governor for convening the meeting in time and called on leaders in the country to emulate the governor’s peaceful approach to serious issues.
Ganduje’s meeting with the stakeholders, which started around 11 pm, lasted for over two hours.
