Tamale Court Sentences 21-Year-Old to Life in Prison for Gruesome Murder of UDS Student

Justice has finally been served in the tragic case of Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, the 19-year-old pharmacy student at the University for Development Studies (UDS) who was murdered in cold blood in September 2024.

On Friday, the Tamale High Court sentenced 21-year-old Salifu Nurudeen, also known as Nko-nya, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of the premeditated murder of Zakiu. The sentencing brings closure to a case that shocked the UDS campus and the entire nation.

The Backstory

At the time of the incident, rumours spread quickly that Zakiu had been killed on the orders of his ex-girlfriend. However, detailed investigations and court proceedings have since debunked those claims.

Court documents and testimonies revealed that the motive for the murder stemmed from a failed relationship and jealousy. Nurudeen, it emerged, was previously dating the same girl who later became romantically involved with Zakiu. Enraged by this development, Nurudeen plotted revenge.

A Sinister Plot Unfolds

According to the prosecution, Nurudeen went to disturbing lengths to execute his plan. He created a fake Snapchat account impersonating a female acquaintance and began chatting with Zakiu, luring him under the guise of a friendly meetup.

The trap was set for September 25, 2024. Zakiu, unaware of the danger, agreed to meet the ‘Snapchat friend’ near the UDS campus — at an uncompleted building between Citadel and Kumbung Hostels. That night, he was brutally stabbed to death.

The Breakthrough

Investigators were able to track Nurudeen through Zakiu’s missing phone, which he had taken after the murder. When police found him hiding in Nyankpala, the victim’s phone was recovered in his possession.

Nurudeen confessed to using Zakiu’s SIM card after the murder to send misleading messages. He impersonated Zakiu in texts to his girlfriend and close friends, attempting to frame her by suggesting she was involved in a breakup that turned deadly.

However, his digital trail and contradictory statements unraveled the truth — exposing his elaborate attempt to mislead authorities.

The Verdict

Despite pleading not guilty and blaming others, including the girl, throughout the trial, the court found Nurudeen’s actions to be calculated and malicious. Prosecutors stated that if Nurudeen had admitted guilt early on and cooperated with investigators, the charge may have been reduced to manslaughter. His repeated efforts to shift blame ultimately contributed to his life sentence.

The girl at the center of the rumors has been cleared of any wrongdoing, as the investigation found no evidence linking her to the crime.

A Campus in Mourning

Zakiu Wunpini was preparing to enter his third year of pharmacy studies at UDS before his life was cut short. His death sent shockwaves across campus, where he was known as a promising and hardworking student.

With the court’s ruling, Zakiu’s family and the UDS community may finally begin the long process of healing.

Photo caption: The late Mohammed Zakiu Wunpini, whose life and dreams were tragically cut short.