A 200-level student of Education Management, Federal University, Dustin-ma, Najib Shehu, has been paraded by the Katsina State Police Command over the death of his 60-year-old stepmother, Asiya Mohammed.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Najib alongside his father and Asiya were at home when an argument ensued between the undergraduate and his stepmother.
During the argument, Najib reportedly went into the kitchen, picked up a pestle, allegedly smashed his stepmother’s head with it, and equally hit his father’s leg.
While Najib’s father was said to be recuperating in a hospital, his stepmother, who was also rushed to a nearby hospital, was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
Narrating how the incident happened at the police command headquarters, Najib said he had a misunderstanding with his stepmother, adding that his stepmother was the one who attempted attacking him with the pestle.
He said, “My name is Najib Shehu. I am 25-year-old and a 200 level student of Education Management, Federal University, Dutsin-ma. I have been having issues with my step mother but on that Thursday, I had just observed prayers and returned to our house.
“My father was in the sitting room when my stepmother entered holding a pestle and started threatening me with it. She raised the pestle up to hit my head but I defended it. Then, she wanted to hit my leg but I jumped up, dodged it and it hit my father’s leg as he was coming to intervene.
“Again, my stepmother raised the pestle up and wanted to hit my head with it but I pushed her, and in the process, the pestle hit her head and caused her to fall down and die.
“My mother was the first wife of my father and they are separated. But I have been staying together with my father and stepmother at the Ambassador Quarters in Katsina. I regret my action; I did not want to commit the crime.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, during the parade, displayed the pestle that the suspect allegedly used in killing the 60- year old woman.
“You know it is a murder case and we must investigate thoroughly. We shall arraign him in court immediately after the completion of our investigation,” Isah said.
However, in a statement issued by the command on the incident, Isah had said Najib, 25, had a misunderstanding with Asiya around 4pm on August 18, 2022, at their residence at the Ambassador Quarters, Katsina.
“He went to the kitchen, grabbed a pestle, hit her head severally with it and she sustained head injuries and was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
“In the spur of the moment, the suspect also hit his father’s leg severally with the said pestle and he sustained fractures in different parts of his leg. The suspect was arrested and he confessed to the commission of the offence. The said pestle has been recovered as an exhibit.”
As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official reaction from Najib’s institution regarding the incident.
