National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Lami Victor, KADUNA
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Saul Hashimu from Ungwan Maigero Community in the Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State is demanding justice for their 13-year-old son, Wisdom, who committed suicide after allegedly being tortured by a soldier and members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).
Wisdom, a Junior Secondary School student, was accused of stealing N10,000 from a neighbour and subsequently beaten by a soldier and civilian JTF members.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2024. Tragically, Wisdom took his own life on Friday, June 6, 2024, inside the family compound.
The problem began when 16-year-old Hope, a neighbour, accused Wisdom of stealing her money and instead of reporting the matter to the police, Hope invited her boyfriend, Segun Samson, a soldier stationed at Bodi Camp in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Samson, alongside members of the civilian JTF, took Wisdom and Hope’s younger brother to the JTF office, where they were severely beaten.
Wisdom was so brutally assaulted that he could not walk and had to receive medical attention.
On the fateful day of June 6th, Wisdom’s parents were not home when they discovered his lifeless body hanging at the back of their compound.
The grieving father, Mr. Saul Hashimu, recounted the tragic events: “On June 1, 2024, while I was in Zaria, I received information that Wisdom was accused of stealing N10,000 from our neighbour’s daughter, Hope Danladi.
I learned that the Civilian JTF took law into their own hands and beat my son, leaving him in a coma while Hope’s younger brother was spared.”
After returning home and interrogating Hope’s younger brother, he confessed to the theft.
A sum of N9,000 was found in his pocket, and he admitted to spending N1,000. Despite this confession, the JTF had already inflicted severe punishment on Wisdom.
Mr. Hashimu continued, “Hope called her boyfriend, Segun Samson, who, identifying himself as a soldier, brought Wisdom and Hope’s brother to the JTF office and urged them to discipline the boys.
My son was beaten so badly that he could not walk. We took him to the hospital and reported the incident to the police.
On Thursday, while I was away, I was informed that my son had died. He hanged himself with a rope at the back of our compound.”
Despite his immense grief, Mr. Hashimu expressed his desire for justice: “Though my son is dead, I can’t question God. He is gone, but I want the authorities to ensure that justice is served, and those who brutalised my son are brought to book. This will serve as a deterrent to others.”
The Kaduna State Police Command confirmed their awareness of the incident and has commenced a full investigation to ensure that justice is served and those responsible for Wisdom’s death are prosecuted according to the law.
