Gombe Police Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing of Inspector’s Wife During Alleged Phone Robbery

The Gombe State Police Command has arrested two young men over the alleged killing of Aishatu Salisu, wife of serving police inspector Salisu Waziri, during an attempted phone robbery in Gombe metropolis. Police said the suspects were arrested after an investigation into the early-morning attack at Wuro Shie Quarters on September 26, 2026.

The case is now being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department (State CID), while police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

The incident occurred at about 4:35 a.m. at the residence of Inspector Salisu Waziri in Wuro Shie Quarters, Gombe, according to the Gombe State Police Command.

Waziri is attached to the Safer Highway Patrol.

Police spokesperson DSP Buhari Abdullahi said unidentified assailants armed with machetes and cutlasses entered the residence and attempted to take a mobile phone belonging to Waziri's wife, Aishatu Salisu.

According to the police account, Aishatu raised an alarm during the incident. One of the attackers allegedly struck her with a machete before the assailants fled, leaving the phone behind.

The Pantami Divisional Patrol Team was subsequently mobilised to the residence. Police said officers rushed Aishatu to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe, where she was pronounced dead.

Police said their investigation led to the arrest of two residents of Wuro Shie Quarters:

- Muhammad Bashir Sale, 20, also known as “Full”

- Musa Sale Ahmad, 18, also known as “Abba”

The command said both men were arrested on September 26 and are being investigated in connection with the alleged crime.

Police also said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects confessed to involvement in the incident and that a sharp knife was recovered as an exhibit. Those claims remain allegations contained in the police investigation; the suspects have not been convicted by a court.

The incident highlights the security risks associated with violent robbery, particularly when an attempt to steal a relatively small personal item escalates into a fatal attack.

For residents, the case is also significant because the alleged attackers reportedly entered a private residence during the early hours of the morning. The police have consequently urged members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police formation.

The fact that the victim was the wife of a serving police officer also means the case involves an attack on the household of a law-enforcement officer, although the police have not stated that her husband's occupation was the reason for the attack.

Key Questions

Was the phone stolen?

Police said the attackers fled the scene leaving the handset behind. The reported motive was an attempt to rob Aishatu of the phone, but the device was not taken according to the police account.

Who are the suspects?

Police identified the suspects as Muhammad Bashir Sale, 20, and Musa Sale Ahmad, 18. Both are residents of Wuro Shie Quarters, where the incident occurred.

Have the suspects been convicted?

No. They have been arrested and are under investigation. Police allegations, including a reported confession, are not the same as a court finding of guilt.

What evidence has police reported?

The command said a sharp knife was recovered during the preliminary investigation. Police also said the suspects allegedly confessed to involvement in the crime.

Was Aishatu the only person attacked?

The police account available in the reports reviewed concerns Aishatu's fatal injury. It does not report another person being killed or injured during the incident.

The case is being treated by the police as involving criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide, according to the command's account reported by Nigerian media. The investigation is being conducted by the State CID in Gombe.

Some reports also identify Aishatu as a mother of five, citing a family member. Because that detail was not included in the police account reproduced in the reports reviewed, it is best treated as family-sourced information rather than a police-confirmed detail.

There is also a minor reporting discrepancy over the date in some secondary reports. The police statement reproduced by Tribune and other outlets gives the incident time as about 4:35 a.m. on September 26, 2026, which is the date used in this report.

The investigation remains with the Gombe State CID. Commissioner of Police Umar Ahmed Chuso has directed officers to conduct a thorough investigation and establish the circumstances of the incident and the responsibility of anyone found connected to it.

The police said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.

Two suspects are now in police custody over the death of Aishatu Salisu following the reported attempted phone robbery at her residence in Gombe. The immediate next stage is the police investigation, which is expected to establish the evidence surrounding the attack and determine what further action is taken in the case.