By Tgnews
In a case that has gripped the community of Kala’a in Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State, several individuals, including Umar Ibrahim Sarkin Pawa, Sunday, an immigration officer, and Sadiq, were arrested in connection with the brutal murder of Thomas Godwin, popularly known as “Zamfara.”
The suspects endured days of alleged maltreatment, including beatings and starvation, before being released without charges after authorities found no evidence linking them to the crime.
According to Umar Ibrahim Sarkin Pawa, a local meat seller, a group of policemen descended on his business spot in Kala’a, apprehending him and others without explanation.
For 17 days, they beat us, starved us, and denied us water, demanding we confess to killing Thomas Zamfara
“They took us to Hong Police Command, then to Yola, and later to Abuja,” Umar recounted. “For 17 days, they beat us, starved us, and denied us water, demanding we confess to killing Thomas Zamfara.”
He alleged that the police pressured them to falsely implicate Dr. Emmanuel N. Musa, a prominent figure and the president of Emnamu Foundation, as the mastermind behind Zamfara’s murder, offering money and threatening them at gunpoint. “We refused to lie against an innocent man,” Umar stated.
Sunday, an immigration officer based in Yola, shared a similar ordeal. While traveling back to his duty post in April, he was stopped at a checkpoint, detained, and taken to Hong, then Yola, and finally Abuja.
“They interrogated us harshly, offered us money to lie against Dr. Emmanuel Musa, but we refused,” Sunday said. “After days of torture, they released us when they found nothing.”
I don’t even know Dr. Musa personally, let alone be sent by him
Sadiq, another suspect, corroborated these accounts, stating that police pointed guns at him, demanding he falsely accuse Dr. Musa. “I don’t even know Dr. Musa personally, let alone be sent by him,” Sadiq said. “We know nothing about Zamfara’s murder.”
The murder of Thomas Zamfara, a well-known youth leader in Adamawa, occurred on the night of April 15, 2025, under unclear circumstances. According to police reports, Zamfara was attacked while returning home, beaten with sticks and clubs, and left dead.
The Adamawa State Police Command described the incident as “unfortunate” and launched a full-scale investigation, deploying detectives to identify the perpetrators.
Zamfara was a controversial figure in Kala’a, known for his provocative behavior. Umar alleged that Zamfara had a history of insulting Muslims, including himself, and boasted about his political connections, claiming his “godfathers” protected him.
Zamfara was involved in a previous murder during an election in Hong LGA, where he allegedly killed a prophet from Taraba State brought in for ritual purposes. “He bragged that nothing would happen to him, and truly, nothing did
Umar further claimed that Zamfara was involved in a previous murder during an election in Hong LGA, where he allegedly killed a prophet from Taraba State brought in for ritual purposes. “He bragged that nothing would happen to him, and truly, nothing did,” Umar said. These claims could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
Watch Umar Ibrahim Sarkin Pawa, a local meat seller in Kala’a, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, accusing the late Thomas Godwin Zamfara of killing a prophet from Taraba State.#Eurovision2025 #pastorpikin #TaiwoAwoniyi #adamawa @GovernorAUF @T_Ge_news
1/2 pic.twitter.com/IHW4E0mal7— TGNews (@TGNews24_7) May 14, 2025
Umar also noted Zamfara’s reputation for pursuing women across religious divides and making enemies in the community. “I don’t know what happened to him that night,” Umar said. “They said he went to Hong to watch ball or meet a woman.”
2/2 pic.twitter.com/QjoqM2tSgc
— TGNews (@TGNews24_7) May 14, 2025
The arrests and subsequent release of the suspects have raised concerns about police conduct and the handling of the investigation. The suspects’ allegations of coercion and brutality have yet to be addressed by the Adamawa State Police Command or the Nigeria Police Force. Meanwhile, the investigation into Zamfara’s murder remains ongoing, with no confirmed leads reported as of May 14, 2025.
The police pressured them to falsely implicate Dr. Emmanuel N. Musa, a prominent figure and the president of Emnamu Foundation, as the mastermind behind Zamfara’s murder, offering money and threatening them at gunpoint
On April 19, 2025, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited Kala’a to condole with Zamfara’s family, assuring them that the investigation was yielding “promising leads” and that the killers would soon be apprehended.
As the community awaits justice, the case continues to spark debate about local rivalries, political tensions, and the need for transparent policing in Adamawa State.
Read Also: Who Killed Zamfara? Fintiri Vows Justice in Manhunt for Thomas Godwin’s Killers
