Suspected gunmen have assassinated Katsina State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Rabe Nasir, in his house.
Nasir was said to have been killed on Wednesday evening at his residence in Fatima Shema Estate in Katsina, the state capital.
The state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, confirmed the incident on Thursday.
“The unfortunate incident happened last night,” Buba said.
Residents of the estate said the gunmen must have taken advantage of Buba living alone to perpetrate the crime.
Residents, who pleaded not to be identified, said, “The gunmen stormed the house at night and attacked him while he was trying to escape from them. They killed him and locked his corpse up in one of the rooms where we discovered it today (Thursday).”
Governor Aminu Masari and top officials visited the late commissioner’s residence on Thursday evening.
As of 7pm on Thursday, sympathisers who besieged the area were prevented by security operatives from entering the compound.
The 61-year-old late commissioner was a former member of the House of Representatives and a former employee of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Nasir also served as Special Adviser during Governor Masari’s first term.
Police sources confirmed that a suspect had already been arrested in connection with the crime.