Anger As Nigerian Police Operatives Torture 65-Year-Old Resident To Death In Bauchi

Yakubu Yusuf Bala, a 65-year-old resident of Za'ar community in Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State, has passed away.

The man, whom the police arrested and remanded in prison custody over Sang village leadership crisis, died in custody.

Bala who was remanded alongside the paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Majesty, Ishaku Komo, a 71-year-old retired Air Commodore with the Nigerian Air Force died of torture allegedly sustained at the police custody before he was secretly transferred to the prison custody.

SaharaReporters reports on Thursday, that the paramount ruler and three others are in critical health condition following the brutal torture they sustained while at police custody and continued facing at the Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correction Service in Bauchi.

It had been reported that hundreds of residents of Za'ar community last Thursday, stormed Tafawa Balewa town where they protested the continued detention of their paramount ruler, Komo and others over the communal clash.

The police have justified their incarceration of the traditional ruler and others. The police had in a statement claimed that, its preliminary investigation revealed that the communal clash in Sang village of Bogoro LGA emanated from the coronation of a hamlet head of Sang whom Komo, acting as Gumzaar of Sayawa Community, selected one Matthew Ishaya as the hamlet head of Sang village.

It said that it was prosecuting the traditional ruler and six other subjects for culpable homicide, conspiracy, inciting violence among other offences.

Meanwhile, the Council for Affirmative Action in a letter of complaint to the state governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, confirmed that Yusuf Bala died in the custodial Centre as a result of torture and dehumanising treatment meted on him.

The Council appealed to the governor to intervene and release the Paramount ruler and five others whom they described their health conditions at the custodial Centre as critical. 

The letter signed by Undercover Human Rights Defender and Executive Director Council for Affirmative Action, Mbami Iliya Sabka, was titled: “Re: Emergency: Letter of complaint and demand against Commissioner of Police, Controller of Nigeria Correctional Services, and two other Senior Special Advisers to the governor for criminal conspiracy, grossly inhumane treatment, abuse of power, and the murder of Yusuf Bala, as well as the attempted killing of Air Commodore Ishaku Komo Rtd, Gung Zaar select and five others in Bauchi Custodial Centre.”

The Council said it write the letter to draw his attention to a grave matter of concern “involving high-ranking officials within your administration.” “We have received a complaint from the relatives of the victims, alleging that two members of your cabinet who serve as Senior Special Advisers conspired with the Commissioner of Police and the Controller of Nigeria Correctional Services to perpetrate acts of gross inhumanity, abuse of power, and murder.”