Enough of deaths in custody, mob violence

A graphic viral video emerged recently on the gruesome murder of Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rano Divisional Headquarters, Kano State, Baba Ali. The mob attack once again showcased the increasing lack of respect for sanctity of human lives. The sheer brutality and inhumanity also call into question our national values and the propensity for citizens to deploy extra-judicial means to settle issues.

The tragic event began on Sunday May 25, 2025 evening when a motorcycle rider suspected to be drunk and identified as Abdullahi Musa was arrested by the Police for alleged reckless and dangerous riding. However, Police said in a statement on May 26 that Musa developed health complications while in custody and was rushed to Rano General Hospital where he passed away at about 06:00 am, while receiving treatment. But youths believed otherwise, insisting he died during police harsh interrogation.

This sparked outrage. Some angry youths took to the streets in protest, eventually storming the Rano Divisional Police Headquarters, looting and setting parts of it ablaze, burning two vehicles, destroying 10 others. The angry mob, in a horrifying scene, beat the DPO with sticks and pipes before he was rescued and rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital where he later died that day.

We at Daily Trust are appalled and condemn the mindless killing of the DPO by the maddening mob and are equally disheartened at the death of the suspect who died in police custody. No human being should be comfortable with such numbing and tragic fate. Therefore, our hearts go out to the families of the DPO and the suspect and we call for speedy investigations to unravel the identities of those involved in the death of the suspect who died in custody, and the brutal killing of the DPO, including the people involved in the general arson within the police station.

They need to be fished out to face the full wrath of the law in order to serve as a deterrent to others. The investigations should also unravel why there was no protection for the police station and the whereabouts of personnel deployed at the scene. Moreover, there must be full disclosures including autopsy that will unravel the circumstances leading to the death of the suspect in custody.

This is important because the Rano, Kano killing is not the first involving police personnel. On March 3, 2024, two policemen were beaten to death in Ikpeshi in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo state after their convoy hit a motorcycle, which resulted in the death of the rider and the passengers.

On October 19, 2024, an angry mob murdered an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who was appeasing people attempting to set fire to a vehicle that killed a commercial motorcycle operator (Okada rider) at Pen Cinema, Agege, Lagos.

In fact, from January 2012 to August 2023, Amnesty International has recorded at least 555 victims of mob violence characterised by killings, torture and other ill-treatment, from 363 documented incidents.

We at Daily Trust insist that no one has the right to act outside the bounds of the law. No person or group should take upon themselves the responsibility of executing justice on any alleged offender without following the correct legal procedure. The era of jungle justice belong to the remote past as it is violation of the victim's rights under international human rights law,17 as well as sections 33,18 34,19 and 3620 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended),21 which guarantees everyone the right to life, the dignity of the human person, and a fair hearing.

Yet, this is part of the growing malaise of anger, aggression, frustration and tension in the land that is being compounded by the high-handedness of security personnel. There is need for a tone down and make the society less combustible so that a small incident don't again ignite reactions with barbaric consequences.

Daily Trust, therefore, urges the Police headquarters to ensure that its personnel strictly adhere to all lawful arrest procedures and humane treatment of detainees while making sure that all custodial deaths receive swift, transparent, and independent investigations. Towards this, there should be continuous human rights-based policing training for all personnel.

Also, all citizens implicated in arson, looting, and attacks on police stations or personnel must be prosecuted to the full length of the law to ensure that all victims receive justice.

Most importantly, trust must be restored between the police and the citizens to ensure that the back of continuous brutality, retaliation, and impunity are permanently broken. Nigeria requires a professional police force focused on providing security and earns the trust of the citizens.

It is also noteworthy that the Police Force, ostensibly in response to growing public outrage over rising cases of custodial torture and mysterious deaths of citizens while in their custody, has ordered immediate nationwide training of its personnel on suspects' constitutional rights and professional handling of criminal complaints.

The directive stated that henceforth, suspects arrested for minor offenses should be released on bail without the prevailing stringent conditions at various police stations the country, stating that failure to comply would attract sever disciplinary sanction from the police authorities.

This is the way to go as the police work towards creating a safer and just environment for all citizens. This will help end gruesome killings and custodial deaths.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).