By Ismail Auwal
Khalifa Abubakar, a 15-year-old student from Rimin Kebe, Ungoggo Local Government, Kano State, was allegedly shot on his head, by the Anti-Daba Unit of Kano State Police Command shortly after he returned from an Islamic school.
The case was brought to the attention of SAHELIAN TIMES by Africa Media and Information Technology Initiative (AfriMITI) who works on using media for the application of justice.
In an exclusive interview with the victim, our reporter gathered that, Abubakar, on Tuesday 13 July at around 6 pm, was on his way home from school when the police unit raided their community.
“I was coming from Ibn Taimiyyah Islamiyya when I saw a convoy of Police in their cars. I went home, removed my uniform, and came out to find them arresting some people.
“No sooner had I come out when they started chasing people into their houses, I tried to run into a nearby house, but unfortunately the owners of the house locked their door before I could reach.”
Khalifa noted that, “the only thing I can remember from that moment was I felt an excruciating pain in my head, and I can’t move my body. I later found myself in the hospital.”
A senior brother of the victim told our reporter, who visited the house of the victim, that, “when I saw Khalifa, laying in a pool of blood, I cried and begged the police at the scene to please help us take him to the hospital.
“They laughed and continued dancing before they later drove their vehicles away, as if my brother’s life was not in danger.
“We took him to Gwagwarwa Primary Health Care, with the help of officers of Gwagwarwa Police Division, where the health workers at the facility treated him and referred us to another hospital.”
The brother said they were rejected in four different hospitals before doctors at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital accepted him.
According to a Brain CT scan report carried out in Muhammadu Sanusi II Diagnostic Center of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, sighted by SAHELIAN TIMES, the boy was hit on his head and blood has reportedly stained a portion of his brain.
Khalifa has had three seizures episodes within a week since the incident happened, SAHELIAN TIMES gathetred.
Nafisa Muhammad, who was an eye witness, while confirming the story said that she was also a victim of the police abuse. She said she was in her house when she started hearing sound of gunshots.
“I went out to bring my son back home when I was hit by a member of local vigilante group, who was part of police team, hit me. when I complained, he unsheathed a knife and threatened to stab me.” She said
“I went to Zango Police Division and the DPO referred me to a Gwagwarwa PHC for medical attention. It is now weeks after the incident but I still can’t walk properly.” She said
The Mother of the victims called on Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Kano State Commissioner of Police to please help them in bringing the perpetrators of the act to Justice.
Kano State Police Command spokesperson DSP, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa in an interview with SAHELIAN TIMES said that, they have received complains on the activity of Anti -Daba Unit of the command in the location and there are currently reviewing the complaints.
