A soldier identified as Private Sadiq Sani is now in police custody after allegedly severing three fingers of a local businessman during a violent encounter in Minna, the Niger State capital.
The shocking incident occurred on Eid-el-Fitr day when Sani visited the shop of Abdulrahman Salihu in the Makera area of the city to buy a pair of shoes.
After selecting the footwear, Sani reportedly asked for the seller’s account details, claiming he would make a bank transfer.
However, things quickly took a dark turn when Salihu noticed that the transaction alert sent by the soldier was fake.
Refusing to release the shoes, Salihu demanded confirmation of payment—a move that allegedly provoked the soldier.
In a fit of rage, Sani was said to have drawn a knife and attempted to stab Salihu in the head. The victim instinctively raised his hand to defend himself, leading to the severing of three fingers.
Confirming the incident, Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said the victim, a 26-year-old resident of Abdulsalam Quarters, was rushed to the Central Police Station in Minna around 3:00 p.m. on March 30 with severe injuries.
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“Preliminary investigation revealed that an argument erupted over the payment. The soldier drew a knife and attempted to strike the victim’s head, but the victim blocked the attack with his hand, resulting in the severed fingers,” Abiodun explained.
Following the attack, the suspect fled the scene but was later traced and arrested at his residence in the Limawa area along with another individual.
Both suspects have since been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for justice to be swiftly served.