The family of Mr. and Mrs. Saul Hashimu, residing in the Ungwan Maigero Community of the Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) in Kaduna State, is demanding justice following the death of their 13-year-old son, Wisdom.
His demise resulted from alleged brutality by a soldier and civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) members in the area.
Wisdom, who lived with his parents on Lafiya Sarki Street in the same LGA, tragically took his own life inside their compound after being falsely accused of stealing N10,000 from a neighbor and allegedly subjected to torture by a soldier and civilian JTF members. The teenager’s suicide occurred on Friday, June 6, 2024.
Prior to his untimely death, Wisdom, who was sitting for his Junior Secondary School examination, was severely beaten on June 1, 2024, by a soldier and members of the civilian JTF.
He was accused of stealing the money from a 16-year-old neighbor named Hope, who reportedly enlisted the help of her boyfriend, Segun Samson, a serving soldier at Bodi Camp in Port-Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
Instead of involving the police, the soldier reportedly took matters into his own hands, bringing Wisdom and Hope’s brother — both accused of theft — to the civilian JTF office. At the office, Wisdom endured severe beatings to the point where he could barely walk.
After receiving medical treatment, he returned home, but tragedy struck on Thursday, June 6th, 2024, when Wisdom’s lifeless body was discovered hanging from a noose at the back of their compound while his parents were away.
The devastating loss of Wisdom has left his parents in anguish, with his grieving father recounting the tragic events.
“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.”
