The decomposing body of a 50-year-old man, identified as Jude Thaddeus, popularly known as Musa, has been recovered from a dry well at his residence in Aku Village, Base 5, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, after he was allegedly murdered and his body set ablaze.
The Nasarawa State Police Command said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing, while a third suspect was still at large.
The victim’s remains were discovered after his sister, Jennifer Alain, 46, raised the alarm over his disappearance and reported the matter to the police on November 3, 2026.
According to the police, Alain, who lives in Mpape, Abuja, told officers at the Aso Pada Division that she had repeatedly tried to reach her elder brother by telephone, but an unidentified person kept answering his calls.
Police investigations reportedly led to the arrest of 23-year-old Yusuf Musa, who had been engaged by the deceased about three months earlier to look after his domestic animals.
The police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly took possession of the victim’s mobile phone after his disappearance on October 22 and repeatedly deceived callers by claiming that his supposed father had travelled to England.
The suspect was also accused of disposing of the deceased’s personal belongings, domestic animals and other properties under suspicious circumstances.
During interrogation, Yusuf allegedly confessed to selling some heavy metals and industrial engines belonging to the deceased for N3.4 million.
The police said the suspect subsequently confessed to participating in the murder and disclosed that the victim’s body had been dumped inside a dry well at his residence.
Acting on the information, detectives, working with environmental services personnel, visited the property and recovered the decomposed remains from the well.
According to the police, preliminary findings indicated that the victim was allegedly killed inside his residence before his body was dumped in the well and set ablaze.
The suspects reportedly covered the well with several blocks in an attempt to conceal the remains and prevent the crime from being discovered.
The remains were later evacuated to the Medical Centre, Mararaba, where a medical doctor examined and certified the victim as dead.
The police said further investigations led to the identification and arrest of another suspect, alongside two persons allegedly involved in receiving the stolen properties.
The two suspects currently in custody were identified as Yusuf Musa, 23, and Victor Zamani, 32.
However, a third suspect allegedly linked to the murder remains at large, with the police saying efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing individual.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 6, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, said the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohamed, had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, for a comprehensive investigation and prosecution of those found culpable.
The commissioner commended the detectives for uncovering the circumstances surrounding the man’s disappearance and the recovery of his remains.
He also urged residents to report suspicious activities and provide credible information to security agencies to help prevent and solve crimes.
The command said investigations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and bring everyone connected with the alleged murder to justice.
