The family of Mr. and Mrs. Saul Hashimu, residents of Ungwan Maigero community in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, is calling for justice following the tragic death of their 13-year-old son, Wisdom Hashimu.
According to reports from Channels Television, Wisdom’s death was allegedly caused by brutality from a soldier and members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in the area, igniting public outrage and demands for accountability.
Wisdom, who lived with his parents on Lafiya Sarki Street, reportedly took his own life on June 6 within their compound after being accused of stealing N10,000 from a neighbor. This accusation led to severe torture by the soldier and JTF members.
The tragic events began on June 1, 2024, when Wisdom, a Junior Secondary School student, was accused of theft by his 16-year-old neighbor, Hope Danladi. Hope’s boyfriend, Segun Samson, a soldier from Bodi Camp in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, intervened, dragging Wisdom and Hope’s brother to the civilian JTF office. There, Wisdom was brutally beaten, rendering him immobile. After receiving medical care, Wisdom returned home, only to be found dead by hanging on June 6 in the compound of his family’s home.
In their grief, the family is seeking justice for the violence inflicted on Wisdom.
His father recounted the events leading up to the tragedy: “On June 1st, I was in Zaria when I received news that Wisdom was accused of stealing Miss Hope Danladi’s N10,000. The Civilian JTF beat him to a point of coma while Hope’s younger brother, who was also accused, was unharmed. Later, Hope’s brother confessed to the theft, and N9000 was found in his pocket.”
He continued, “Hope called her boyfriend, Segun Samson, who identified himself as a soldier and coerced the JTF to discipline the boys. My son was so severely beaten that he could not walk. We sought medical attention and reported the incident to the police.”
The father’s anguish deepened with the news of his son’s death: “On Thursday, I was informed that my son was dead, having hanged himself at the back of our compound. Although I cannot question God, I demand justice for my son. Those responsible for his brutalization must be held accountable to prevent such tragedies in the future.”
The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the incident and initiated a full investigation to ensure justice is served and those responsible for Wisdom’s death are prosecuted.