The police in Sokoto State have rescued a 45-year-old man, Salisu Muhammad, who was allegedly locked up for 15 years by his uncle at Gidan Madi in Tangaza Local Government Area.
HumAngle learnt that Muhammad, who has a grown up daughter is mentally deranged.
Hajiya Ubaida Bello, the.Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Human Rights, said NGOs and Donor Agencies, revealed that they were alerted to his plight by neighbours who initially thought he was no more alive.
“They initially thought he was no more because he had not been seen in public for over 10 years.
“When they got to know about his condition, they quickly notified us.
“It was on that basis, we mobilised some human rights activists, policemen, local government officials, including the sole administrator of the area, stormed the house and rescued him,” she said.
She said during the raid, two women were seen in the house, including his 19-year-old daughter, who could not tell for how long her father had been incarcerated.
“We met him in a very terrible and horrifying situation, urinating and excreting in the same spot without being given any due attention.
“He was even too frail to walk because he is so emaciated.
“So, if their claim that he is mentally deranged is true, why would they continue to keep him for this long without taking him to a psychiatric hospital for treatment?” she asked.
Another account said that the man was locked up by his uncle who had been staying in a nearby village.
Bello noted that the man had been taken to a psychiatric hospital in Kware by the local government officials while the police were still trying to unravel the motive behind his incarceration.
The Spokesman for the Police Command in Sokoto State, ASP Muhammad Sadiq, confirmed the incident, saying preliminary investigation revealed that the man is suffering from a mental problem.
“So far, there is no criminal case established and no arrest is made,” Sadiq said.
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