Pandemonium broke out yesterday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital when a sugar cane seller stabbed to death his customer, a 19 year-old man identified as Umar Abdulraman over a mere argument. The run-away culprit was not yet identified at the time of filing this report.
However, LEADERSHIP gathered that the incident occurred at about 10pm on Tuesday when Umar, who resides at no. 20 Kano Street, went to buy sugar cane and had engaged in a heated argument with the seller upon which he stabbed him to death.
According to eye witness, the deceased was negotiating price with the sugar cane seller and had insisted that the sugar cane be sold to him at three pieces for N50. But the seller refused and this sparked a heated argument which led to a fight before the neighbours intervened and calmed the situation.
It was further gathered that few hours later, the sugar cane seller had met with the deceased on the street, accosted him and demanded for reason why he engaged in an argument with him. He removed a knife and stabbed the 19 year-0ld man on the chest, who fell down and died immediately.
The Special Assistant to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Public Utilities, Mr. Gaddafi Asemnaya reported the matter to security operatives in order to avert a big conflict in the State capital.
Meanwhile, some Muslim youths in the area had mobilised for a reprisal attack but the police stepped in to take control of the situation. The lawbreaker whose identity could not be ascertained fled from the scene.