Police Officer, Son Assaulted By Nigerian Soldier

As Muslims worldwide gathered to celebrate the Eid-Al-Adha religious festival on Jun. 16, things were taking a less peaceful turn for a Nigerian Police officer and his son in Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria. 

Both men say they were assaulted by a soldier of the Nigerian military who invaded their home in Maga village with two military Hilux vehicles filled with armed men; an incident that has been confirmed to HumAngle by Ajayi Ayoyinka, the camp commandant at Dan-Marke military base in Zamfara, where the vehicles came from. He added that he was not around at the time it happened. 

The police officer, Umar Chembo – an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) –  said he was shocked when he suddenly saw the soldiers ransacking his residence in a civilian community in broad daylight.

He claimed the soldiers destroyed the property in the house and “took away my police uniform, official cap, and the ₦90,000 worth telephone belonging to my son”. They also looted shops and kiosks in his neighbourhood, he said, causing panic and mayhem for residents of the area.

Officer Yellow,  who allegedly led the team for the attack on Umar’s home, was also accused of stabbing his son, Usama Umar, a 31-year-old man, on his face and leg after beating him mercilessly.

The family says the attack was an extrajudicial attempt by the soldier to victimise Usama, who was in a relationship with a woman who had refused the soldier’s advances. The soldier had issued several warnings to Usama in the past, they say.

“Officer Yellow himself fired 2 gunshots at me but couldn’t hit me; see the bullet shots here numbered OFN 7.62 61, and that frightened us in the community,” Umar told HumAgle. “I had to confront him straight and take the gun away from him to the ground. I had to confiscate both the knife and the big stick he had carried and wanted to kill my son.”

Following the incident, Usama’s father said he reported the matter to Muhammad Usman, a top commandant at the Dan-Marke Military Camp, where the invading soldiers had come from.

When Ajayi Ayoyinka, the camp commandant at Dan-Marke military base, confirmed the incident to HumAngle, he added, “I am currently on operations and can’t speak on the phone,” he told HumAngle when contacted on the phone.

Ajayi expressed shock, wondering why one of his men could invade another person’s house to destroy his property.

When HumAngle contacted Nafiu Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Office in Kebbi state, he also confirmed the incident, saying: “We are presently verifying and compiling the information for necessary steps to address the situation in Maga village.”