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- Police probe circumstances surrounding death, alleged takeover of deceased’s properties
By Billy Abel Yola
The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a woman, Elizabeth Andrew, and commenced an investigation into the controversial death and burial of a Yola-based man, Daniel Dyedzimai Marye, following complaints by members of his family.
Andrew was reportedly arrested on November 3 and is currently being interrogated at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the command.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Sulaiman Nguroje, confirmed the development, saying the investigation followed complaints from the deceased’s relatives, who questioned the circumstances surrounding his death and why he was buried without their knowledge or participation.
Marye reportedly died on October 10, 2026, and was buried the following day at his residence.
Nguroje said the Commissioner of Police had ordered a discreet investigation into the matter, which is being handled by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the CID.
He explained that the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding Marye’s death, the decision to bury him without involving his relatives, and allegations that some of his properties had been transferred to the ownership of Andrew.
The police are also investigating claims that the deceased’s vehicle, ATM card, telephone and other personal belongings were taken into the suspect’s possession.
Nguroje said investigators would determine whether other persons were involved in the matter and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
He, however, cautioned against drawing conclusions before the investigation was concluded, adding that appropriate charges would be determined based on available evidence before the suspect could be taken to court.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s wife, Laraba Daniel, has disputed any suggestion that her marriage to Marye had ended before his death.
Laraba, who said they got married in 2003 and had lived together for 23 years, explained that she was temporarily away from Yola in Kaduna State, where she had travelled to care for her sick father.
She alleged that their marital relationship became strained following the involvement of Andrew in the marriage.
According to her, efforts were made to resolve the disagreement at a meeting reportedly facilitated by the Catholic Bishop of Yola, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza.
She maintained that her husband never divorced her and rejected any claim that Andrew was married to him.
The deceased’s younger brother, Sunday Marye Daniel, also questioned the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death and burial, alleging that the family was deliberately excluded from the burial arrangements.
Sunday said he received a telephone call informing him of his brother’s death and was initially told that the body would be taken to a mortuary.
However, he alleged that when he arrived the following morning, he discovered that his brother had already been buried.
He said the family was particularly concerned because, according to information available to them, Marye had been seen in good condition earlier on the day he reportedly died.
The younger brother further alleged that the family was subsequently asked to vacate the deceased’s residence following the issuance of a court order a few days after the burial.
He claimed that the deceased’s telephone, ATM card, vehicle and other assets had come under Andrew’s control, raising questions among relatives about the circumstances surrounding his death and the handling of his estate.
Sunday identified some of the deceased’s properties as houses in Bachure and Sangere, another property in Jankasa, as well as a Mercedes-Benz C180 car with registration number ABJ 189KP.
He said the family was unaware of any transfer of the properties to Andrew and wanted the police to establish the circumstances under which the assets allegedly came under her control.
The legal representative of the family of the decease, Barr Joshua Sunday Wugira, speaking to Daily Sun, said he was shocked when his attention was brought to the case and that after close to 24 days after the man’s death and the report of the issue, the woman has not been brought in for questioning by the police. He later found out that the suspect had obtained obtained a spurious court order restraining law enforcement agencies and prosecuting bodies from inviting or prosecuting her and that the suspect had also obtained obtained a court order restraining the family of the deceased from accessing his home which is actually the scene of the crime.
“There are a lot of suspicious activities surrounding the man’s death and we are bent on getting to the bottom of it,” he said
The police have yet to disclose the outcome of any post-mortem examination or announce formal charges against the arrested woman as investigations continue.
