How did Jos STF Commander’s wife really die?
Late Rifkatu Umaru
It was learnt that it was the late Madam Rifkatu requested to be dropped by the road-side so she could follow a short-cut along a footpath to get home. Confident that Rifkatu could find her way, the friends obliged and drove away, only to be told the following morning that she never got home.
Late Rifkatu’s husband, Brigadier-General Hassan Umaru confirmed to Weekly Trust that his wife was not kidnapped or murdered as reported in a slew of national newspapers. He said she missed her step while walking home in the evening from the point where her friends dropped her, and fell into the well.
The well which Rifkatu fell into has been abandoned for many years, surrounded with a cement trimming. Except for a narrow footpath that snaked by the side of the well – which serves as short-cut for residents – the well is suffering from years of neglect. The water inside is murky with all sorts of refuse dumped in it.
The clarification from the STF Commander corroborates the position of the Plateau State Command which had earlier said the lady was neither pushed into the well nor her body dumped in it, after she might have been killed.
Plateau State Police Commissioner, Abdulrahman Akanno stressed that the case of the late Mrs. Umaru is not a case of murder. “We have established that she accidentally fell into the well,” he said. STF sources also corroborated the story, saying there was no bruise or cut on the woman’s body to lend credence to reports that she was murdered.
Husband of late Rifkatu, Brigadier-General Umaru explained the situation that led to the death of his wife: “She had traveled to Bokkos for a wedding with some of her friends and they offered to drop her at the family compound at Zaria Road but because the road is not too motorable, she opted that she should be dropped by the road-side to link up the house via a short-cut. “Along the line and in a hurry, she must have stumbled, falling into the well.” The STF Commander said that the death of his wife should not be used as an opportunity to cause violence in the state.
When Weekly Trust visited the Reeves Heritage Kitchen, which Mrs. Umaru ran, the place was already a shadow of its former self, as it was deserted with no worker in sight. Only two relations of the late restaurateur were seen receiving condolences on behalf of the family.
When the news of Rifkatu’s death broke last Sunday, there were fears that she may have been murdered to get at her husband due to his sensitive position.
Petty traders who display their wares around the area spoke to Weekly Trust about late Rifkatu. One Malam Salisu, who sells confectioneries near her restaurant, said the deceased will be greatly missed as all those living around her were quite fond of her. “I’d keep my wares in her restaurant at the end of every day to pick them up the next because I don’t have a permanent place where I can keep them.”
According to Salisu: “There was a time when a woman died during childbirth and late Rifkatu collected the baby, breast-fed and raised him. Most of the petty traders who are selling their wares here got their start with her help.”
It was also gathered that late Mrs. Umaru had a helping heart, regardless of one’s religion or ethnicity, as further investigation revealed that she was instrumental to securing different business stands near the museum for both Christian and Muslim entrepreneurs. An elderly man, apparently a trader, who declined to identify himself, added: “She was really a good person – just go around and ask.
Comments
Post a Comment