After three years of intensive investigation, detectives appear to have found a major lead to the killers of Mr. Lazarus Agai, the Nigerian First Class Chief murdered in Plateau State on June 18, 2016.
Mr. Agai was killed in an ambush along with his security Detail and son while returning from his farm in Sha village of Bokkos Local Government Area.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, Plateau State Police Command had since been on the trail of the killers but with little success due to logistical deficiencies.
It was learnt that a private car belonging to one of the detectives which was mostly used for mobility during investigations broke down close to achieving a breakthrough in late 2016.
Efforts to get an alternative through local authorities to continue the case proved abortive, forcing the investigators to patronize commercial motorists, it was gathered.
This posed numerous challenges for the Officers in apprehending suspects as they were mostly late to target locations of their suspects.
The challenges according to findings were worsened by lack of funding from the Police authorities.
This led to the use of personal resources by the Detectives with the support of an unnamed private individual for movements.
Despite the hiccups however, one suspect identified as Alh. Haruna Gani was arrested and arraigned towards the end of 2016 though later acquitted by a Bukuru High Court in Jos the Plateau State capital, it was learnt.
Another suspect named Inusa was arrested shortly later in the outskirts of Jos, around a place called Forest, located between the boundaries of Plateau and Kaduna States.
He according to sources has been providing vital information from prison custody in Pankshin, Central Plateau State where he still is.
How Murder of GoTV Sales Manager made the way
The major breakthrough in cracking the case was recorded during investigations into the murder of a GoTV Sales Manager, Mr. Tokunbo Adeleke.
Mr. Adeleke was killed on 10th December, 2018 at about 9:15pm local time at his residence in Rayfield, near New Government House, Jos.
He was said to have been returning from work when he was attacked by armed men.
Investigations into the case opened almost immediately, leading to the arrest of three suspects with substantial evidences, findings reveal.
Mr. Mamuda Umar and Ismail Abdullahi were arrested in Bisichi village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on 14th January, 2019 while Mr. Suhailu Musa (aka) Manga was arrested on 18th February, 2019 in B/Ladi town.
Mr. Musa also called Manga, thought to possess about the best shooting skills is reported to have been indicted in several other cases – assassinations, robbery and kidnapping included.
Detectives say they had been tracking him since the murder of the Saf Ron/Kulere following tipoff from “inside sources”.
The suspects are still being interrogated but the Police authorities have filed charges against them on the murder of the GoTV staff.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Plateau State, Mr. Tyopev Terna said in a text message that the charges were filed at the State High Court, Jos on 1st March, 2019.
Manga is however expected to undergo fresh interrogation after the case of the murder of Mr. Adeleke.
