Bala Ali, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) lynched by a mob in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State, had previously been indicted for the torture and killing of suspects while serving in Bauchi State.
READ ALSO: DPO dies after violent attack on police station in Kano
Ali was killed by an angry mob on Monday following allegations that he tortured a motorcycle mechanic, Abdullahi Musa to death. The incident triggered widespread outrage and led to a violent attack on the Rano Divisional Police Station. During the chaos, parts of the station were looted, two vehicles were set ablaze, and at least ten others were destroyed.
The police later confirmed the DPO’s death and announced the arrest of 27 suspects linked to the unrest. Authorities also refuted claims that Abdullahi Musa died in police custody, clarifying that he became ill while in detention after being arrested for reckless riding and was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away.
Further findings revealed that Bala Ali had a controversial record. In July 2020, while serving as DPO of the Bauchi Township Division, he was implicated in the deaths of two suspects under police custody due to torture. A third suspect was severely injured, Daily Nigerian reports.
The victims named Ibrahim Babangida, Ibrahim Samaila, and Abdulwahab Bello were arrested over allegations of stealing chickens belonging to a retired police officer. Babangida and Samaila died from their injuries, while Bello survived with lasting harm.
Their families later approached the Federal High Court in Bauchi, which in March 2021 ruled that the suspects’ fundamental human rights had been grossly violated. Justice Hassan Dikko ordered N100 million each in compensation to the mothers of the deceased and N10 million to Bello.
The court held that the killings amounted to extrajudicial executions and declared them illegal under Nigerian law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
