The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested one Mamuda Zakari Yau, a 30-year-old petty trader, popularly known as Wadata, for allegedly killing a commercial motorcyclist, Basiru Mohammed, aged 25, in an attempt to steal his motorcycle to raise money for his planned wedding to marry a third wife.
In a statement issued on Friday night by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the suspect was arrested following a distress call received on October 16, 2025, from a vigilant resident of Unguwan Dr. Sulaiman Adamu Quarters, near the old Airport area in Bauchi.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that Yau engaged the victim, a resident of Zango Sa’idawa, in a fisticuffs during which he allegedly used a knife to fatally stab him before fleeing with his red Bajaj Boxer motorcycle bearing registration number NNG 813 UM.
However, the victim managed to raise an alarm before collapsing, prompting residents to chase the suspect. The pursuit forced Ya’u to abandon the stolen motorcycle and escape the scene.
Wakil added that a team of detectives from ‘E’ Division, Yelwa, was immediately dispatched to the location.
The victim was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), where he was sadly pronounced dead on arrival.
The statement further said the victim’s body has been deposited at the hospital morgue for a postmortem examination.
Police further investigation led to the recovery of exhibits at the scene, including one Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, a blood-stained knife, a pair of shoes, and an Android phone belonging to the suspect. Using information retrieved from the phone, detectives successfully tracked and arrested Ya’u.
“During the interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, attributing his actions to financial difficulties linked to his intention to marry a third wife. He deceitfully lured the motorcyclist and utilised a knife to stab him during the altercation,” the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Sani-Omolori, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.
