The tranquility of a community in Fufore Local Government Area, Adamawa State, was shattered on March 3rd, following a fatal altercation that led to the arrest of 35-year-old Ishaya Markus. Markus is accused of the stabbing death of Franchise Albert during a dispute fueled by a tangled web of marital discord and infidelity.
The heart of the matter traces back to ongoing tensions since 2022 between the deceased, Franchise Albert, and his 20-year-old wife, Libiyatu, over her affair with Markus. Despite Albert’s warnings to the pair, the illicit relationship continued, with Libiyatu revealing to the police that Markus had convinced her to continue the affair even after a confrontation with her husband led her to seek refuge at her parents’ home.
Libiyatu recounted to authorities how she had reconciled with her husband and promised to end the affair, yet Markus persisted, leading to a fatal encounter on the day of the incident. Markus, having failed to find Libiyatu at home, ran into Albert, which escalated into a deadly confrontation. “He cut me on my hand and by the neck. I used my knife and stabbed him in his stomach 2 times and by the neck, leading to his death,” Markus admitted to the police.
In the aftermath, Markus expressed a mixture of regret and a plea for clemency, offering to support Libiyatu or assist her in finding a new partner, despite having taken her husband’s life.
The Adamawa State Police, led by spokesperson SP Suleiman Yahaya Ngurore, have confirmed the arrest and subsequent investigation into the tragic event. Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, has pledged a comprehensive probe into the circumstances leading to Albert’s death, ensuring that Markus will be brought to justice. The case highlights the devastating impact of personal choices on community safety and familial stability, leaving a community to mourn and reflect on the tragic loss of life.