The Yobe Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old housewife, Zanaib Isa for allegedly stabbing her 25-year-old husband, Ibrahim Yahaya, to death.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Garba Ahmed, confirmed the incident through a statement by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim which was made available to LEADERSHIP in Damaturu where he disclosed that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday June 25, 2024.
CP Ahmed said the command is saddened by the unfortunate incident between the couple that led to the death of a promising young man arising from the consequences of an abusive marriage.
He said that, “On 26-04-24, at about 1000hrs, the C Divisional Police Headquarters received a complaint from a neighbour in Abbari Ward, Damaturu, about a couple, Ibrahim Yahaya, 25 years old, and Zainab Isa, 22 years old.”
According to the statement, the couple had a heated argument on the same date at about 0900hrs, which escalated into a scuffle.
The wife used a knife to stab the husband in the chest, and he subsequently died from his grievous injury before the police rescue team arrived.
LEADERSHIP gathered that, the assailant was brought to the state CID for discreet investigation and subsequent arraignment before the court.
The suspect, while admitting the killing, said she did not intend to kill her husband but stabbed him in self-defense while the deceased was beating and kicking her at a time she was still recovering from a recent operation from child birth.
Zainab further stated that the marriage had been marred by violence from the outset, often occurring when she requested food or money, and had continued even after the birth of their first child and the arrival of their second child, despite her husband’s inability to provide for their needs.
CP Ahmed urges couples to report abuses to the authorities for solution or file a complaint with the nearest Sharia or family court for possible redress instead of violence.
The Command also calls on community members to address marital issues with caution in consideration for the socioeconomic situation in the country to prevent escalation of minor issues to criminal cases such as homicide.
