Amnesty International has urged Nigerian authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged torture and killing of 16‑year‑old Bishir Malam Dauda while he was in police custody in Katsina State. The human‑rights group says the teenager died after being beaten with iron rods by officers attached to the Yankara police outpost in Faskari Local Government Area, following his arrest on suspicion of stealing a bag of soybeans.
The claim stems from an Amnesty statement posted on its official Facebook page on Saturday. According to the organization, Bishir was taken from his Tsangaya school on 7 May 2026 after a friend identified him during a police inquiry into the reported theft. Police allegedly bound the unaccompanied boy, demanded a confession, and, when he refused, subjected him to severe beatings that resulted in his death.
Amnesty states that after the alleged torture, the officers placed the teenager’s body at Yankara Primary Healthcare Centre. The organization describes the incident as part of a broader pattern of human‑rights violations by Nigerian police, citing repeated cases of unlawful detention, torture and extrajudicial killings documented since 2016.
“The death of Bishir Malam Dauda exposes a ruthless cycle in which victims are arrested, tortured until they confess or are forced to pay bribes for release,” the statement reads. Amnesty accuses the police of operating with impunity, fostering a climate of fear and corruption among citizens.
The group calls for the identification and prosecution of all officers involved, directly or indirectly, in the alleged crime. “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 adds.
The call for accountability comes amid ongoing criticism of Nigeria’s law‑enforcement agencies. International and local watchdogs have repeatedly highlighted alleged abuses by the Nigeria Police Force, which was established to protect the public but, according to Amnesty, has become a source of insecurity for many communities.
Nigerian officials have not yet responded to Amnesty’s demand for an inquiry. If the allegations are verified, the case could prompt renewed scrutiny of police practices and pressure for reforms aimed at curbing abuses and restoring public trust in the security sector.
