The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested Sule Gurmu, the man accused of killing his wife, Umaima Maidawa, in an alleged case of domestic violence that has shaken the Bayawa community in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The incident occurred on January 13, 2026, when Gurmu reportedly struck his 25-year-old wife with the wooden handle of a hoe during a domestic dispute at their residence in Bayawa.
Umaima, according to the police, was confirmed dead shortly after the attack, prompting a swift investigation by security agencies.
Days after the killing, Gurmu fled Bayawa but was eventually tracked down and apprehended on Saturday in Katami town, Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following a directive by the Chairman of Augie Local Government, Yahaya Augie, ordering security agencies to ensure the suspect’s immediate arrest.
The operation, jointly executed by the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, brought an end to the manhunt that spanned Sokoto and Kebbi states.
Augie had earlier visited the crime scene in Bayawa and supervised the transfer of the victim’s body to Argungu General Hospital for autopsy.
Condemning the killing as “abhorrent and unacceptable,” he vowed that his administration would not tolerate domestic violence or criminality in the local government area.
Residents of Bayawa have continued to express grief and disbelief over the tragedy, demanding swift justice and stronger community sensitisation against domestic abuse.
Civil society groups in Kebbi State have similarly raised concerns over increasing reports of household-related assaults, urging authorities to step up preventive awareness, particularly in rural communities.
Domestic violence cases in Nigeria fall under state penal codes and national laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act), which criminalises abuse and mandates victim-centred protection. Advocacy groups have argued that broader adoption and implementation of the Act across states could strengthen accountability and support systems for survivors.
Hon. Augie commended security personnel for their professionalism and assured residents that Gurmu will face the full weight of the law. He extended condolences to the family of the deceased and reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding lives and property in Augie Local Government.
When contacted on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the arrest and said the suspect will be arraigned in court in due course.
“Yes, we have arrested the husband, and he will be arraigned in court upon the completion of the investigation,” he said.
