A family in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state is mourning the apparent suicide of their son. Mr. and Mrs. Saul Hashimu, parents of the victim, Wisdom Hashimu, say their son was brutalized by a soldier and members of the civilian joint task force (CJTF) after being falsely accused of theft by a neighbour.
The deceased lived with his parents and was writing his Junior Secondary School examination before the alleged torture occurred on June 1, 2024 which led to him committing suicide on Thursday, June 6, 2024 inside their compound, after he was falsely accused of stealing ₦10,000 from a neighbour and allegedly tortured by a soldier and civilian JTF members.
Wisdom was accused of stealing the sum from a 16-year-old neighbor known as Hope, who then reportedly invited her boyfriend, one Segun Samson, a serving soldier at Bodi Camp in Port-Harcourt.
Rather than reporting to the police, the soldier was said to have dragged Wisdom and Hope’s brother — both accused of stealing the money — to the civilian JTF office.
At the civilian JTF office, Wisdom was said to have been severely beaten to the point where he was unable to walk.
He returned home after receiving medical attention but the story changed for the worse on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 as Wisdom’s lifeless body was found hanging on a noose at the back of their compound when his parents were not around.
The grieving father narrated the incident thus; “On 1st of June, 2024, I was in Zaria when I received information that Wisdom was alleged of stealing my neighbour’s daughter (Miss Hope Danladi)’s N1000,” he said.
“I was further told that the Civilian JTF took the law into their own hands and beat Wisdom. But, beyond my wildest imagination, the Civilian JTF only beat Wisdom to a point of coma while Hope’s younger brother was spared and returned home unscathed.
“After interrogation at home, her (Hope’s) younger brother confessed to the crime. When he was searched, N9000 was found in his pocket, and he said he had spent N1000 already.”
“I was also told that Hope called her boyfriend, Segun Samson, who identified himself to the Civilian JTF in Dokaji Street in Narayi as a serving soldier at Bodi Camp in Port-Harcourt after brandishing his ID Card for validation.
“This was after Hope called Samson, and he bundled Wisdom and Hope’s younger brother to the civilian JTF office, and he prevailed on the Civilian JTF to discipline the boys.
“My son was severely beaten by the Civilian JTF to the point that he was unable to walk. We took him to the hospital where he received medical attention while we reported the
matter to the police station.
“On Thursday, while I was away, I was told to rush back home, that my son was dead, that he hanged himself with a rope at the back of our compound.
“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 that brutalised my son be brought to book. This will serve as a deterrent to others.”
Reacting, the Kaduna state police command say it is aware of the incident and investigation is ongoing.
