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Outrage in Kogi as ‘Unarmed’ Student Killed by School Guards, Raising Fresh Questions on Extrajudicial Violence
Outrage in Kogi as ‘Unarmed’ Student Killed by School Guards, Raising Fresh Questions on Extrajudicial Violence
By: Michael Mike
The killing of a final-year student, Andrew Amehson Aziko, allegedly by security guards at Nana College of Health in Okpo, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, is drawing mounting scrutiny, with legal experts and rights advocates warning that the circumstances point to a possible extrajudicial execution and a broader failure of accountability.
The incident, captured in widely circulated video footage, has triggered calls for an independent investigation by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), amid growing concern over what residents describe as a troubling pattern of unlawful killings by local security actors in the area.
In the footage, the victim—reportedly unarmed and visibly distressed—is seen being beaten repeatedly with batons before he is shot at close range. He is heard pleading in Igala, asking the guards to “touch his hand,” while calling some of them by name, suggesting they were familiar with him. Community sources say Andrew had been undergoing treatment for mental health challenges and had wandered into the school premises after leaving a rehabilitation facility.
Under Nigerian law, the right to life is protected by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which permits the use of lethal force only in strictly defined circumstances, such as self-defence or the prevention of escape from lawful detention. Legal analysts say the conditions visible in the footage do not appear to meet that threshold.
“Even where there is suspicion of wrongdoing, force must be necessary and proportionate,” Abuja-based human rights lawyer Sadiq Bello said. “From what is publicly available, this raises serious questions of unlawful killing.”
Although the individuals involved are reportedly private security guards, rather than police officers, legal responsibility may still arise under the Criminal Code Act, which criminalises homicide, assault and excessive use of force. Experts note that private guards are not empowered to administer punishment and are expected, at most, to restrain suspects and hand them over to law enforcement authorities.
The case has also amplified concerns about the regulation and oversight of private security personnel operating in schools and other institutions, particularly in rural communities where formal law enforcement presence may be limited.
Rights advocates are now urging the National Human Rights Commission to step in, arguing that an independent, federal-level probe is necessary to ensure credibility and public trust. Under its statutory mandate, the Commission can investigate human rights violations, summon witnesses, conduct public inquiries and recommend prosecution or compensation.
A senior official familiar with NHRC processes said the Commission’s intervention could help ensure that evidence is preserved and that accountability mechanisms are not compromised at the local level. “This is precisely the kind of case that demands independent oversight,” the official said.
The killing is the second reported incident of its kind in Olamaboro within two months. In the earlier case, a young man reportedly died after being beaten by members of a vigilante group following a domestic dispute. That incident sparked protests and led to the arrest of several youths after clashes with security personnel, with some detainees said to remain in custody.
Residents say the recurrence of such incidents is deepening fear and eroding confidence in local security structures. “There is a pattern emerging—people taking the law into their own hands and facing no consequences,” a community member said.
Beyond the immediate act, questions are also being raised about the apparent absence of standard policing procedure in the handling of the situation. Established protocols require that suspects be apprehended using minimal force, that injured individuals receive immediate medical attention, and that incidents involving violence be promptly reported to the police, with scenes preserved for forensic investigation. None of these steps appear evident from available accounts.
The victim’s mental health condition has further intensified concern, with advocates stressing that individuals in distress require de-escalation and medical support, not force. “This reflects both a legal and humanitarian failure,” a Lokoja-based mental health advocate said. “A vulnerable person was treated as a threat rather than someone in need of help.”
Amid reports of planned protests, the Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, Hon. Williams Ameh, has called for restraint, urging residents not to take the law into their own hands and to allow due process to run its course. However, skepticism remains high among residents who point to previous incidents where, they say, justice was neither transparent nor swift.
As of press time, the Kogi State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement or confirm whether any arrests had been made, a silence that has only intensified public concern.
Stakeholders are now calling for immediate steps, including the suspension of the implicated guards, the securing of the crime scene, and a transparent investigation involving independent oversight. For many in Okpo, the case has become more than an isolated tragedy—it is a test of whether the rule of law can still prevail.
“If this goes unpunished,” one resident said, “it tells everyone that a life can be taken without consequence.”
Outrage in Kogi as ‘Unarmed’ Student Killed by School Guards, Raising Fresh Questions on Extrajudicial Violence
Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Government has distributed relief materials to 434 indigenes of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area who were recently rescued by security agencies after spending three months in Boko Haram captivity.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the victims in Pulka on Monday and directed the immediate distribution of food and non-food items to support their recovery and reintegration.
In compliance with the Governor’s directive, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Ali Abdullahi Isa, promptly supervised the distribution exercise.
Each rescued person received a bag of rice, a bag of maize grits, a mattress, a wrapper, and a shadda, while children received two pairs of clothing.
In addition, 208 heads of households received N50,000 each, fulfilling Governor Zulum’s earlier pledge of financial assistance.
Speaking during the distribution, the SEMA Director General said the intervention was part of the government’s immediate response to ease the hardship faced by the rescued victims.
“I am here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was here some few days ago, and to deliver the items he directed that it should be given to you as emergency relief,” Ali stated.
The rescued individuals are currently receiving medical care and psychosocial support at a government facility. Upon completion of the rehabilitation process, they will be reintegrated into their respective communities.
The exercise was carried out alongside the Chairman of Gwoza local government, representatives of the Ngoshe community, and other officials.
Zulum Delivers Relief, Cash Support to 434 Ngoshe Residents Rescued from Boko Haram
Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, marked Democracy Day with the handover of two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and critical logistics to the Nigerian Army, after joining internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a symbolic celebration and distribution of food items to 2,500 beneficiaries.
The armoured MRAPs delivered to the Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai on Friday are intended to enhance troop protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ambushes which remain a persistent threat in the fight against insurgents. Additional logistics include operational Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for frontline soldiers in difficult terrains.
Zulum also marked Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Madinatu camp where he distributed food supplies, non-food items, and cash gifts to thousands of beneficiaries.
The distribution, held at the Madinatu IDP camp, served to consolidate Zulum’s resettlement gains. Over the past seven years, Borno State Government has successfully resettled more than 2 million IDPs in their ancestral communities in a dignified and voluntary manner.
“It gladdens my heart today, the 12th of June, 2026, to celebrate June 12th, Democracy Day, here in Madinatu Camp, the only formal camp that is standing inside Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, today, to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind, for the distribution of food and non-food items. Inshallah, this camp will be closed this year. This will be our last distribution exercise in this camp, or the second to the last,” Zulum said.
However, Governor Zulum used the occasion to announce a timeline for the camp’s closure. The governor ordered that Madinatu camp be shut down within one month, vowing to similarly close most IDP camps across various Local Government Areas in the coming phase of his administration’s resettlement strategy.
“Democracy must translate into restoring the dignity of our people,” Zulum told the IDPs. “Living in camps is not a permanent solution. Our goal remains to return every displaced person to their ancestral homes with security and means of livelihood.”
In addition to the food items, Zulum approved N50,000 each for the 2,500 beneficiaries present at the event.
“Each of the 500 beneficiaries mentioned will receive a 25kg bag of rice and a 25kg bag of sorghum. Women will receive wrappers. I also promise to provide 50,000 naira to each beneficiary. This amount can be credited into their own individual accounts, inshallah,” Zulum said.
The exercise was attended by the APC’s State Deputy Chairman, Garba Mulima, APC State Vice Chairman (Central) Abdur Rahman Abdulkarim, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mallumbe, Member representing Jere at the State Assembly, Abba Kyari Kolo, commissioners and commissioner designates and several other senior government officials.
Democracy Day: Zulum gives 2 MRAPs, other logistics to Army, celebrates with IDPs
Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano
By: Michael Mike
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the arrest of a suspected gun courier intercepted while allegedly transporting weapons believed to be destined for criminal elements in Katsina State.
The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday, June 12, 2026.
Governor Yusuf described the operation as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes threatening communities across Northern Nigeria.
According to information provided by the DSS, the suspect, identified as Muhammad Abubakar, 30, was apprehended in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State while allegedly transporting four rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) tubes, three AK-47 rifles and two empty magazines to Funtua in Katsina State.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the suspect collected the weapons from an individual identified as Bello in the Maigatari border area of Jigawa State and was expected to receive N450,000 upon successful delivery of the arms.
Governor Yusuf praised the professionalism, vigilance and intelligence-driven approach of DSS operatives, noting that the timely interception prevented the weapons from falling into the hands of bandits and other criminal groups.
He said the operation underscored the critical role of intelligence gathering and effective collaboration among security agencies in tackling emerging security threats across the country.
The governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to supporting security agencies through sustained cooperation, logistics assistance and policies aimed at strengthening public safety throughout the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies to aid efforts to combat crime and maintain peace.
Governor Yusuf expressed confidence that ongoing investigations would lead to the arrest and prosecution of all individuals connected to the alleged arms trafficking network.
The statement was signed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.
Gov. Yusuf Commends DSS Over Arrest of Suspected Gun Courier in Kano
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