The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 19-year-old casual worker in connection with the alleged killing of a fellow staff member within the premises of the Gombe Government House.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, December 25, 2025, involved two casual workers attached to the Government House, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the command.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said the command received a distress call at about 3:50 p.m. reporting that a male adult, identified as Mallam Umar, also known as “Baba Usama,” had been found unresponsive.
Abdullahi said operatives were immediately deployed to the scene and the victim, a borehole operator at the Government House, was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Gombe, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
He explained that preliminary findings suggested the death was suspicious, prompting the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Ahmed Chuso, to visit the scene and order a thorough investigation.
According to the police spokesman, further inquiries, including a review of CCTV footage within the Government House, revealed that the deceased was assaulted by another casual staff member shortly before his death.
The suspect was identified as Shuaibu Adamu, aged 19, also known as “Yaya Mama,” a casual watchman attached to a construction company operating within the Government House premises.
Abdullahi said the suspect fled the scene after the incident but was later tracked and arrested in a coordinated operation at about 11:00 p.m. at his hideout in Bagadaza Quarters, Gombe. He added that the suspect confessed to the crime during preliminary interrogation.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the hospital mortuary for an autopsy, while the suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
The police command assured that justice would be served, adding that the suspect would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. Further updates, the command said, would be provided as the investigation progresses.
