Peter Bala, the father of the 20-year-old UNIJOS student Rinji Bala killed by an official of the Nigerian army has mourned his dear son, recalling how he saw his corpse.
KOKO TV reported how the young man was shot by a soldier, who, according to the Nigerian Army, mistook him for a suspect.
Rinji Bala was said to have been arrested 6 other young men when the OPSH team responded to a distress call on activities of cultists and armed robbers around the area. Read more here.
Speaking to the newsmen, Peter Bala noted that he had run to the office of the soldiers after he learnt his son was arrested and on getting there he saw a corpse which he didn’t know was his son. He added that the soldiers did not tell him it was his son but said the young men are innocent and have been freed.
“When I got wind that my son along others were arrested, I quickly rushed to the military base at Zaria road. The Sector Commander told me the boys were found innocent and have been released. But I saw a corpse at the entrance of the military base but didn’t know it was my son; and they never told me until I met his fellow detainee while driving home“, he said. Read also: Fulani Herdsmen Have Killed More Nigerians In One Week Than Coronavirus – Femi Fani-Kayode
Also speaking with NAN, Emmanuel Dung, an eye witness, confirmed that he, Rinji and five others were arrested at about 7 p.m. but never told their offence until they got to the soldiers’ office. he added that they were tortured for over an hour and were released about 10pm. “The soldiers didn’t say what our offense was and took us to their office at Zaria Road. They tortured us for over an hour and later released us at about 10 p.m. At the gate, some soldiers asked us to run. When we took off, they opened fire on us and Bobo (Rinji) fell down few meters away from the gate. I stopped to help him but a soldier came close with his gun pointed at me but turned back, and one of the soldier shouted “ceasefire“, he said.
