Tragedy has struck the Labau community in Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State, as a 57-year-old farmer, Patrick Mija, was found dead. The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed the incident and has initiated a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Yahaya Suleiman, to PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the unfortunate event occurred on Sunday while Mr. Mija was on his way back from his farm. Security operatives were promptly deployed to the scene, and efforts are currently underway to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act.
“We got a report that the farmer was attacked on his way coming from the farm on Sunday,” Suleiman stated. “Our men visited the scene and the health centre where he was confirmed dead. Our men were deployed by the commissioner of police, and we also got support from sister agencies, including local hunters, to comb the area. Investigation is ongoing, and we are doing everything possible to restore normalcy in the community and apprehend the perpetrators.”
Sources from the area reveal that Mr. Mija was ambushed and fatally shot by unknown assailants before they fled the scene. The discovery of the farmer’s body was reportedly made by a resident, Boyi Karfe, who subsequently alerted the police.
Further details shared by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X on Tuesday corroborated the account. He reported that the incident took place in the afternoon and that the police received a distress call from Mr. Karfe, a resident of Labau, reporting the shooting of Mija.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer in Kiri, alongside his team, visited the scene and rushed the victim to the Primary Health Care Clinic in Wuroyanka, where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” Makama explained. “The sources added that the corpse had been deposited at the facility, while efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend the assailants.”
This deeply concerning incident comes at a time when security challenges continue to plague various parts of the country, impacting both travellers and farmers. The Adamawa State Police Command’s swift response underscores their commitment to investigating this fatality and restoring a sense of security to the affected community. The command has urged the public to cooperate with their investigation and to report any relevant information that could assist in apprehending the culprits.
