Unknown assassins in the wee hours of Monday invaded the home of an official of the State Security Service killing him along with four members of his family.Photo:
The deceased, Garba Bello, was an operative of the State Security Service (SSS).
The official, identified as Garba Bello, was killed when the assassins forced their way into his home, situated in Kundila Gandu Estate, off Zoo Road, in Kano around 2am.
He was killed along with his wife, Habiba (40), while three of his children were strangulated. They were identified as Hafsat (16), Khalifa (14), and Murjatu (5).
Two of his sons, Bello (21), a student of Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil, and Farouk, escaped by jumping over the fence of the house.
Lucky survivors
Farouk, who sustained serious injuries, is being watched over by operatives of the SSS in a Kano hospital where he is receiving treatment.
Family sources told NEXT that Mr. Bello, who is an indigene of Jigawa State, was serving in the medical department of the SSS in Sokoto State. He was reported to have been ill for some time and was in Kano to take care of his health after he was granted a sick leave. He had planned to return to his Sokoto base this Saturday, before he met his untimely death.
Security sources said that earlier this year, while the deceased was away, persons suspected to be thieves broke into his house, which is a few metres away from a police outpost, and made away with all his valuables.
According to a neighbour, Aminu Sarki, he was with the deceased on Sunday by 5.30pm and he(the deceased) didn't complain of any threat to his life.
"I was shocked when I received a phone call this morning (Monday) while I was still on my bed that my good friend and members of his family have been murdered. I couldn't believe it because yesterday, I and my wife were with them and they didn't complain of anything," he said.
Another source said that the day before, the door to the deceased's home had to be forced open, after efforts to open it from inside failed. The deceased had to call on his neighbours to open it from outside.
He was later quoted to have said he suspected someone must have tampered with the door.
Kano State commissioner of police, Mohammed Gana, confirmed the incident, saying, "It is a clear case of an act of assassins. We were there this morning and preliminary investigation has indicated that it was not a robbery attack.
"Two of his children escaped from the hands of the assassins. We are going to interrogate them to find out whether they can give us any clue. Investigation is still on; and no arrest has been made yet," he said.
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