Crime
CSOs condemn torture, killing of Adamawa teenager, call for investigations
A coalition of civil society organisations has condemned the “barbaric and inhumane” torture by members of Operation Farauta, a law enforcement task force set up by the Adamawa State Government, that led to the death of 17-year-old Abdullahi Tukur Abba on the 5th of August, 2023.
In a joint statement on Saturday, the groups called on the Inspector General of Police and the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, to investigate the alleged torture and murder of Abba over suspicion of theft.
They noted that any form of torture was a violation of human rights, contravened the Nigerian Constitution, and was a criminal offence under the Anti-Torture Act of 2017.
The statement read, “We unequivocally denounce the use of torture in any circumstance. It is a clear violation of human rights, contravenes the Nigerian Constitution, and is explicitly criminalized under the Anti-Torture Act, 2017. Torture not only inflicts severe physical and psychological suffering but also undermines the core principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
“We call on all relevant stakeholders, including the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police, to ensure a swift and thorough investigation into the allegations of torture. The perpetrators of this heinous act must be identified, held accountable, and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“We demand justice for Abdullahi Tukur Abba, the father of the victim and his grieving family.”
The CSOs also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation, to immediately prosecute persons involved in Abba’s torture, while also calling on the National Human Rights Commission and the National Committee Against Torture, to conduct “comprehensive and impartial investigations into this incident, exercising their oversight functions to ensure that justice prevails”.
“We request their unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of the rule of law and protecting the rights of every citizen”, they added.
They further urged other civil society groups to join hands to collectively demand justice and accountability, while shedding light on the tragic incident, and working towards preventing similar occurrences in the future.
The statement also read “We stand in solidarity with all victims of torture and reiterate our commitment to the eradication of torture, the protection of human rights, and the pursuit of justice”.
Some of the civil society groups who made the demands include Access to Justice, Avocats Sans Frontières France / Lawyers Without Borders, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, Sterling Law Centre and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, among others.
The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a cult initiation ceremony in Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka.
According to Ikenga, the operation was carried out by police operatives around 9:30am on June 15, leading to the arrest of six suspects at the scene.
Recovered during the raid were one Jojef pump action gun, two cartridges, and a golden-coloured Lexus SUV with registration number ATN 202 AE. Other items found include two cutlasses, two scissors, a cap bearing the inscription of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, charms, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.
“They are currently undergoing police interrogation to get more insight into their modus operandi, after which the case will be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations,” Ikenga stated.
The police spokesperson reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to fighting cultism and other related crimes across the state.
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, remanded two persons, Olaitan Fasasi and Kehinde Tobiloba in a correctional facility over alleged attempted murder.
Fasasi, 40, and Tobiloba, 26, whose addresses were not provided, are being charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and membership of a secret society.
The Magistrate, Mr L.A Owolabi, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.
Owolabi directed the police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
He thereafter adjourned the case until May 31 for mention.
The Prosecutor, Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants committed the offences at about 5.02p.m on Feb. 15, at Mushin, Lagos.
She said that Fasasi, Tobiloba and others now at large, attempted to commit murder by shooting at a resident, Alfred Ademola.
“They armed themselves with a locally made gun. They belong to Eiye Confraternity, a group proscribed by law,”, she said.
Ikhayere said that the offences contravened Sections 230(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2012.
He said that the actions of the defendants also contravened Section 2(3)(a)(b)(c)(d) of the unlawful societies and Cultism Law of Lagos State Law.
An Area Court in Jos, on Tuesday, sentenced one Jeptha John, to three months imprisonment for stealing a Redmi mobile phone valued at N165, 000.
The judge, Shawomi Bokkos, sentenced the John after he pleaded guilty to the offence.
The judge, however, gave the convict an option to pay N20, 000 fine and N50, 000 restitution to the complainant.
Bokkos said that if the convict defaulted in paying the restitution, three months should be added to his sentence to make it six months imprisonment.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Insp Monday Dabit, told the court that the case was reported at the B Division Police Station, Jos, on Dec. 1, 2024, by Ms Nerat Danjuma.
He said that the complainant alleged that the defendant trespassed into her house and stole her mobile phone valued at N165, 000.
The prosecutor further told the court that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code, Law of Northern Nigeria.
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