By Wole Mosadomi
MINNA — Three youths between the ages of 18-20 years (names withheld) have been declared wanted by the police after stabbing a patent medicine seller, Baba Otu, to death in Makera area of Minna, Niger State.

The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday when the trio stormed the shop of the deceased to buy  Tutoline Toden syrup.

Our correspondent gathered that the three alleged culprits after purchasing three bottles of the drug refused to pay the deceased which led to hot argument between the youths and the shop owner.

It was alleged that many of the youths in the state purchase the medicine and similar cough mixtures, and mix  them with other solutions and take over dose to make then intoxicated.

After a hot agreement between the trio and the shop owner over payment, the three youths took to their heels and the deceased chased them to collect his money.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that as the deceased insisted on collecting his money, one of the boys brought out a  knife from his pocket and allegedly stabbed Otu to death.

Some neighbours of the deceased who witnessed the scene with the help of some passers-by ran after the culprits, but could not  apprehend them.
They, however, reported the matter to the Central Police Station immediately. As at the time of going to press, the suspects were yet to be arrested.

Our correspondent however reliably gathered that the  mother of one of the  suspects has been arrested by the police.

The state police command spokesman, ASP Richard Oguche, who confirmed the incident, assured that the trio would be arrested and charged to court accordingly.