Amnesty demands probe into death of 16-year-old in custody of Katsina police
Amnesty International Calls for Investigation into Alleged Police Torture and Killing of Nigerian Teen
Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian government to conduct an urgent investigation into the alleged torture and death of a 16-year-old boy, Bishir Malam Dauda, while in police custody in Katsina State.
The organization reports that Dauda was allegedly tortured to death by officers at the Yankara police outpost in Faskari Local Government Area. The teenager was arrested on May 7, 2026, in connection with the suspected theft of a bag of soya beans.
According to Amnesty International, its investigation revealed that Dauda was beaten severely with iron rods after being taken from his Tsangaya school. He was reportedly implicated in the theft by a friend during a police inquiry.
A statement from Amnesty International described the circumstances surrounding Dauda’s detention: “Unaccompanied and without the presence of any adult relation, Bishir was tied by the police and asked to make a confession. He refused. Then he was tortured more until he became lifeless,” the organization stated.
Following the incident, Amnesty International claims that the officers placed Dauda’s body at the Yankara Primary Healthcare Centre. The rights group characterized the event as part of a broader pattern of human rights violations attributed to police practices in Nigeria.
“What happened to Bishir Malam Dauda exposes a pattern of ruthless human rights violations in which victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released,” the statement read.
Amnesty International further criticized the police for operating with apparent impunity, contributing to a climate of fear and corruption. “The Nigeria Police, which was created to protect the people, has instead become a danger to society, torturing its victims with complete impunity,” the organization noted.
The human rights group is calling for the identification and prosecution of all officers allegedly involved, both directly and indirectly. “This incident must not be swept under the carpet. Police officers involved in this atrocity, directly and indirectly, must be held to account,” the statement declared.
Since 2016, Amnesty International’s research has consistently documented instances of torture, unlawful detention, and brutality by members of the Nigerian police force against citizens accused of crimes.
