Parents Demand Justice Over Son’s Death
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Saul Hashimu, residents of Ungwan Maigero Community in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, is seeking justice for their 13-year-old son, Wisdom, who committed suicide following alleged brutality by a soldier and members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).
Wisdom, who lived with his parents on Lafiya Sarki Street, was accused of stealing ₦10,000 from a neighbor. On June 1, 2024, he was severely beaten by a soldier and civilian JTF members. This beating left him unable to walk, and he later received medical treatment. Tragically, on June 6, 2024, Wisdom’s lifeless body was found hanging in the family’s compound, leading to his parents’ call for justice.
Wisdom was writing his Junior Secondary School examination when he was accused of theft by a 16-year-old neighbor named Hope. Hope allegedly involved her boyfriend, Segun Samson, a soldier stationed at Bodi Camp in Port-Harcourt. Rather than reporting the matter to the police, Samson dragged Wisdom and Hope’s brother to the civilian JTF office, where Wisdom was brutally beaten.
Hope’s younger brother, who was also accused, was not subjected to the same level of violence and later confessed to the theft. He was found with ₦9,000 in his pocket, having already spent ₦1,000.
Mr. Hashimu recounted the ordeal: “On June 1, 2024, I was in Zaria when I received a call that Wisdom was accused of stealing ₦10,000 from my neighbor’s daughter, Hope Danladi. The Civilian JTF beat Wisdom severely while sparing Hope’s younger brother, who later admitted to the theft. Despite this, my son was taken to the hospital for treatment after the beating. On June 6, I was informed that Wisdom had hanged himself at the back of our compound.”
Mr. Hashimu continued, “Although my son is gone, I want justice. Those responsible for brutalizing my son should be held accountable. This will serve as a deterrent to others.”
The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed awareness of the incident and has launched a full investigation to ensure justice is served. The authorities are committed to apprehending and prosecuting those responsible for Wisdom’s death in accordance with the law.
Wisdom’s tragic death has highlighted the urgent need for accountability and the protection of human rights within the community. His family remains hopeful that justice will be achieved, preventing future occurrences of such brutality.
