Two men are in police custody in Nasarawa State for allegedly locking up their 35-year-old cousin and starving him to death over an allegation of witchcraft.

The acting commissioner of police in Nasarawa State, Shettima Muhammad, confirmed the duo’s arrest on Monday in Lafia, the state capital.

He said police received information on November 30 that the deceased, Mohammed Sani, had his hands and legs tied and locked away in his room, where he was starved to death over an allegation of witchcraft.

Mr Muhammad said the family hurriedly buried the remains of Mr Sani, but further investigation was ongoing to arrest others who might have been involved in the murder.

He added that the two suspects already arrested denied their involvement and claimed that they only participated in the burial after discovering the decomposing body of Mr Sani in his room.

In another development, Mr Muhammad said 16 suspects were arrested between October and November for various criminal offences across Nasarawa State.

He said 10 suspects were arrested for armed robbery, five for kidnapping and one for defilement.

The police spokesperson added that the police also recovered seven firearms and 27 rounds of live ammunition from the suspects.

In the case of defilement, Mr Muhammad said the suspect, Habu Yusuf (21), was arrested on October 31 for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl.

He said the victim’s mother reported the case to the police on the fateful day when she found her daughter walking abnormally.

“Preliminary investigation showed that the suspect had also sexually molested two of his elder brother’s children aged eight and 10 years before nemesis caught up with him,’’ Mr Muhammad said.

He commended the collaboration of other security agencies and citizens with the police in the fight against crime in Nasarawa.

(NAN)