The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a man, Manaseh Jatau, over the alleged murder of his 35-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Jeremiah.
The police stated that it received a report of Jeremiah’s death, as well as an accusation on Jatau, the latter later being traced to his workplace where he was arrested and later detained for prosecution.
The command, on Friday, disclosed that the victim was killed following an altercation with the arrestee, the woman’s lifeless body being found along Mai Angwa Street in Romi.
It also stated that a cotton wool was found stuffed in her nose when she was discovered, further stating that Jatau later confessed to the crime during interrogation.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the discovery was reported by the Officer-in-Charge of the Romi Outstation, prompting detectives to visit the scene.
Jeremiah was taken to St Gerald Hospital in Kakuri, Kaduna, where a doctor confirmed her death.
Her remains were subsequently deposited at the hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.
According to Hassan, preliminary investigations established that Jatau was the last person known to have contacted the deceased.
The suspect had also invited her to meet him at Ebano Joint in Romi before the incident.
Hassan said the suspect admitted that he had fought with Jeremiah inside his room following the phone call from another woman.
He allegedly told investigators that he later dumped her body in an open field near his residence in an attempt to conceal the incident.
The police spokesman said investigators were still working to establish the full circumstances surrounding Jeremiah’s death, while the suspect remained in custody.
Hassan added that Jatau would be charged to court after the completion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, condemned violence and called on residents to settle disputes through peaceful means.
Muhammad also assured the public that the command would pursue justice for the deceased and ensure that anyone found responsible faces the law.
The police urged residents to provide credible information to security agencies to help prevent violent crimes and assist ongoing investigations across Kaduna State.