A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), yesterday, condemned the torture and alleged gruesome murder of a 17-year-old student, Abdullahi Tukur Abba, by security personnel in Adamawa State. 
 
The Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2 student was arrested on August 5, after a neighbour lodged a complaint to members of Operation Farauta, a law enforcement task force set up by the Adamawa State government over a missing phone and was allegedly beaten to stupor, before he was admitted at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, where he gave up the ghost. 
 
In a statement jointly signed by Access to Justice, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Sterling Law Centre and among others, the CSOs denounced the use of torture in any circumstance. 
 
According to them, it is a clear violation of human rights, contravenes Nigeria’s Constitution, and is explicitly criminalised under the Anti-Torture Act, 2017. 
 
“Torture not only inflicts severe physical and psychological suffering but also undermines the core principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law,” they said. 
 
The CSOs called on all relevant stakeholders, including the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police, to ensure a swift and thorough investigation into the allegations of torture. 
 
“The perpetrators of this heinous act must be identified, held accountable, and made to face the full wrath of the law. We demand justice for Abdullahi Tukur Abba, the father of the victim and his grieving family,” they demanded.  
 
The CSOs also urged the Attorney-General of Adamawa State to ensure that those implicated in this appalling act of torture are swiftly prosecuted under the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act, noting that the law must be enforced rigorously to deter future incidents and ensure that no perpetrator of torture goes unpunished.
 
“We call upon the National Human Rights Commission and the National Committee Against Torture to fulfill their mandates by conducting comprehensive and impartial investigations into this incident, exercising their oversight functions to ensure that justice prevails. 
 
“We request their unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of the rule of law and protecting the rights of every citizen.
 
“We urge our fellow civil society organisations to join hands with us to ensure that this act of torture does not fade into obscurity. We must collectively demand justice and accountability, shedding light on this tragic incident and working towards preventing similar occurrences in the future. “Together, we can make a difference and ensure that no one else falls victim to such cruelty,” they added.