The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of at least 41 suspects over the gruesome killing of Baba Ali, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Rano Divisional Headquarters in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State.
This was confirmed by the Kano State Police Command on a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
He said the command was deeply saddened by the “brutal killing” of the senior officer, which has sparked widespread condemnation.
“This senseless killing is a grave attack on the very fabric of our society and a direct assault on the sacrifices of our brave officers who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” the statement read in part.
Newsmen reported on Monday that the DPO was attacked after enraged residents accused him of arresting and torturing a suspect to death.
The crowd stormed the police station, set it on fire, and severely beat the DPO, who later died in the hospital from his injuries.
Several vehicles were also torched or vandalised during the violent clash between the youths and the police.
Further investigation by Newsmen revealed that this was not the first time Baba Ali had been implicated in such acts. In 2020, he was found responsible for torturing two individuals to death, with a third narrowly surviving the ordeal.
In March 2021, the Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi awarded ₦210 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force as compensation for the torture that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left a third with life-threatening injuries, all over allegations of stealing chickens.
The victims—Abdulwahab Bello, Ibrahim Babangida, and Ibrahim Samaila—were severely beaten by then-Superintendent of Police Baba Ali, who was serving as the Divisional Police Officer of the Bauchi Township Division at the time. The incident occurred on July 21, 2020, following accusations that they had stolen chickens belonging to a retired police officer.
Samaila and Babangida died as a result of the torture, while Bello survived but sustained critical injuries.
The Court of Appeal later dismissed Baba Ali’s appeal in March 2023, upholding the judgment of the lower court.
According to the court’s findings, on July 17, 2020, the three victims were taken from detention to an open area behind the cell. Acting on Baba Ali’s instructions, they were tied to a tree and brutally beaten with a pestle on their legs, ankles, thighs, arms, and chests.
It said, “As a result of this torture, Ibrahim Babangida and Ibrahim Samaila died, while the 1st Respondent survived. The deceased’s bodies were then taken to their families. The 1st Respondent (Bello) filed an action seeking declarations that these acts violated fundamental rights and claimed damages. The Federal High Court granted the reliefs, including an award of N100 million in exemplary damages. Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal.”
Following the deaths of Babangida and Samaila and the life-threatening injuries he sustained, Abdulwahab Bello filed three separate lawsuits, demanding ₦150million each in damages and compensation for himself and his two deceased friends.
