A tea seller, Muhammad Auwal Idris, has died after he was allegedly beaten unconscious by three men following an argument over a cigarette in Jimeta, Adamawa State.
Idris was reportedly assaulted at his workplace at Banga, Nassarawo Borehole, Jimeta, on September 28, 2026, after he became involved in an earlier altercation between one of the suspects and a shop owner.
The Adamawa State Police Command, in a statement on Thursday, said it had arrested three suspects in connection with the death.
The suspects were identified as Isah Yakubu, 20, popularly known as Sangalo; Japhet Hassan, 24, aka Slow; and Eric Alfred, 19, aka Mamaji.
According to the police, the incident began when Yakubu allegedly took a cigarette from a shop without paying.
The command said Idris, who was at the scene to buy seasoning, became involved in the ensuing argument.
Police said Yakubu, allegedly angered by the incident, returned the following day with Hassan and Alfred and the trio trailed Idris to his workplace, where they allegedly subjected him to severe beating.
The attack reportedly left the tea seller unconscious.
He was rushed to a hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
Following the incident, the police said the suspects fled to Taraba State.
The command said operatives subsequently launched a manhunt and tracked the suspects to Taraba, where they were arrested.
The Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, Kabir Umar Hassan, commended the operatives for what he described as their diligence and professionalism.
He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure diligent prosecution of the suspects.
The commissioner also assured the deceased’s family and members of the public that the police would pursue justice in the case.
He urged residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
The police further appealed to eyewitnesses and members of the public with relevant information to assist investigators as the case progresses.