The operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have arrested a 15-year-old boy, Adamu Ibrahim, for chopping off the hand of a farmer in Jital village, Bauchi Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, who made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday, August 26, 2023, said Ibrahim chopped off the farmer’s hand over a disagreement on his farmland.

He said police operatives arrested the suspect for trespass, mischief, and causing grievous hurt.

Wakil stated: “A disagreement ensued in the course of which the suspect stabbed the victim upon asking him to vacate his farmland.

“In addition, the suspect drew his machete and chopped off the left hand of the victim.

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“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on several occasions trespassed on the victim’s farmland with his cows while rearing.”

The police spokesman noted that the incident followed a series of complaints to the suspect’s father by the victim for intrusion into his rice farmland by the suspect.

“The investigation revealed that on the 24th of August, 2023, the suspect who was armed with a stick and machete, again went to the victim’s farmland and destroyed crops, whose value is yet to be ascertained,” Wakil added.

He said police officers, after receiving the report, swung into action and activated more preventive measures to avert a possible herder-farmer clash in the area and arrested the suspect.

“The victim was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for medical attention and he is responding to treatment,” the police spokesman disclosed.

Wakil quoted the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Mohammed, as warning herders to stay away from farmlands in the state.

Mohammed also directed that the suspect be charged to court upon completion of discreet investigation.

The Star