A Divisional Police Officer in Bauchi, northeastern Nigeria has allegedly tortured three persons accused of stealing chickens, BBC Hausa reported.
Two of the victims instantly died and the other one is currently receiving treatment for fractures in his legs due to the beatings, the report said.
Abdulwahab Bello, who escaped, told BBC Hausa Service that he accompanied his friends to sell the chickens in the market and upon returning, they were arrested and accused of stealing them.
The Nigeria Police Force, Bauchi State Command, said it constituted a committee to investigate the issue after it received complaints from human rights activists.
The DPO is yet to be arrested, but the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Muhammad Wakil, said the police would arraign him after investigations into the allegation.
Police Brutality in Nigeria
In the recent past, there have been cries across Nigeria over police brutality and social media users have expressed dissatisfaction over the use of “extra force” by the police on civilians.
Many Nigerians are outraged over human rights violations by Nigeria Police Force; especially by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Amnesty International documented 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial executions by the SARS in three years from 2017 to 2020.
Although the legislature passed the anti-torture statute in 2017, the nonprofit says that police officers in Nigeria continue to torture civilians.
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