A tragic incident unfolded in Lafiyagi Dzwafu village, Katcha Local Government Area, Niger State, when 27-year-old Fatima Dzuma allegedly killed her husband, Baba Aliyu, in a shocking act that has left the local community in disbelief.
Fatima, who married Baba three years ago after her divorce from her first husband, reportedly confessed to the crime. The couple, who had no children together, had been preparing for the naming ceremony of Baba’s first wife’s newborn child when the tragic event occurred.
According to local sources, Fatima claimed that she had no interest in her husband and killed him in an act of violence driven by personal dissatisfaction. She allegedly strangled Baba with a scarf and struck him multiple times with a pestle while he slept, breaking his hand in the process.
After the murder, Fatima concealed Baba’s body by wrapping it in a mat and dragging it to the backyard. For three days, she denied knowing his whereabouts as Baba’s family searched desperately for him. It was only later that Fatima admitted to the crime, claiming she had acted alone and attributing her actions to the influence of the devil.
The lifeless body of Baba was discovered in a bush near Katcha on December 31, 2024, following a report by concerned locals. Responding promptly, operatives from the Katcha Police Division arrived at the scene and arrested Fatima.
In a statement on January 2, 2025, Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the details of the case. During her interrogation, Fatima explained that the killing followed a violent altercation in which Baba allegedly beat her. She then attacked him with the pestle and disposed of his body in an attempt to cover up the crime.
The police have sent Baba’s body for a post-mortem examination at Bida General Hospital. Fatima remains in police custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.
The tragic loss of Baba Aliyu has left the village in shock, and the authorities are working swiftly to ensure that justice is served.
