The father of the deceased, Tukur Abba, who is the immediate past librarian of Modibbo Adama University, told SaharaReporters that personnel of Operation Farauta “murdered my 17-year-old son on a mere allegation of receiving a stolen phone”.

Amnesty International, an international non-governmental human rights organisation has demanded an extensive investigation into the case of the 17-year-old senior secondary student, Abdullahi Tukur Abba, who was tortured to death by a group of security personnel belonging to a unit code-named ‘Operation Farauta’ in Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria.

SaharaReporters on Wednesday reported that the security personnel of the Operation Farauta, which comprises personnel of the armed forces, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) had reportedly tortured Abdullahi to death, following an allegation that he received a stolen iPhone 7 belonging to the wife of the Executive Director of Adamawa State Scholarship Board, Shuaibu Wambai Zumo.

The father of the deceased, Tukur Abba, who is the immediate past librarian of Modibbo Adama University, told SaharaReporters that personnel of Operation Farauta “murdered my 17-year-old son on a mere allegation of receiving a stolen phone”.

Nigerian Father Narrates How Security Personnel Tortured His 17-Year-Old Son To Death For Allegedly Receiving Phone Belonging To Wife Of Adamawa Scholarship Board Director

Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International said the security outfit was set up to fight thuggery, robbery and banditry in the region but the security personnel have rather been torturing and extorting suspects and investigating civil matters.

Demanding investigation into Abdullahi Abba’s death, the human rights organisation in a statement on its Twitter handle on Thursday said, “Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian authorities to investigate the death of Abdullahi Tukur Abba — a 17-year-old senior secondary student, who was allegedly tortured by security personnel attached to Operation Farauta in Yola Adamawa state.

“Operation Farauta — a security task force in Adamawa state set up to fight thuggery, robbery and banditry has instead been torturing and extorting suspects and even investigates civil matters.

“Abdullahi Tukur Abba was arrested by operatives of Farauta security task force on 5 August after a neighbour lodged a complaint over a missing mobile phone. While in custody of the task force he was tortured. He died upon admission at the hospital.

“In Adamawa state, there are no judicial or any other mechanisms in place to prevent Operation Farauta task force from subjecting vulnerable targets to human rights violations. This must end.”