A 20-year-old man, Abdullahi Bawa, has been remanded in prison custody after allegedly stabbing his friend to death during a violent dispute over Diazepam, a controlled sedative drug, in Ngurore, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The tragic incident, which occurred on April 25, 2025, has shocked residents and reignited urgent conversations around the growing drug crisis affecting Nigerian youth.
Bawa, identified by police as a known drug dealer within the community, reportedly attacked his friend Baba Ali with a pair of scissors during a heated altercation. The fatal stab to Ali’s chest ended his life on the spot.
In a disturbing twist, a female bystander, Hasim, was also injured in the attack and is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
The suspect was arraigned on Monday before Chief Magistrate Court II in Yola, presided over by A.M. Adamu. Police prosecutor Inspector Nanugi Tayeri told the court that Bawa has a history of drug-related offenses. The First Information Report (FIR) described him as a habitual offender with ties to the local drug trade.
He now faces two serious charges — culpable homicide and causing grievous hurt — in violation of Sections 218 and 191 of the Adamawa State Penal Code.
The court has ordered Bawa’s remand in prison while police continue their investigation. The case has been adjourned to a later date.
The killing has drawn public outcry, with many pointing to the dangerous rise in drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
Diazepam, Tramadol, and other illicit substances have become increasingly accessible on the black market, particularly in urban slums and rural communities, where regulatory enforcement is weak and drug awareness is low.
“This is more than just a criminal case — it’s a public health crisis,” said a local health advocate in Yola. “We are losing our youth to addiction, and with that comes violence, mental instability, and even death.”
Security experts and community leaders are urging Nigerian authorities to launch a coordinated response that combines drug enforcement, community education, and mental health intervention.
They warn that without decisive national action, tragedies like the one in Yola will only become more frequent.
The Ngurore incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the country’s growing drug epidemic — a crisis demanding urgent and sustained attention.