Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police Force allegedly shot a 17-year-old boy identified as Sadiq on Monday in Abuja while chasing suspected kidnappers.
According to a source, the SARS officials allegedly scaled the fence of his aunt’s house and opened fire on occupants of the House.
She said Sadiq, who was performing his ablution when the incident occurred was shot in the arm as he tried to run upon sighting the gun-wielding officers whom he took for armed robbers.
She told Sahara Reporters that “One of the officers shot him in the hand. Sadiq was bleeding. He handcuffed Sadiq and one of the neighbour’s son and took them into their vehicle.
“Meanwhile, the remaining officers broke the doors into the house, brought out the remaining boys and her husband and started beating them up.”
The source further disclosed that she was later informed that the boys were being detained at the SARS office in Guzape where the officers claimed that they were trailing a kidnapper who had demanded for ransom money.
“After we narrated our own side of the story, the officer realised there were some hidden facts. After clearly listening to his step mum, a senior officer asked them to release everybody,” she added.
“After going back and forth, I insisted they give us Sadiq for treatment and seeing it’s a gunshot injury and none of the hospitals will accept us without a police officer attached to us. I demanded that one of the police officers should accompany us to the hospital.
“They took Sadiq into their Hilux vehicle and drove him to National Hospital and left. The doctors told them to wait behind and submit their statement but they refused and left us there. When the bandage on Sadiq’s hand was removed, it was a gunshot injury.”
The bullet reportedly damaged Sadiq’s radius and ulna bones as well as the tendons on his wrist.
While narrating the tragic incident, the lady called on Nigerians to join her and the family in demanding for justice for Sadiq, who was neither a kidnapper nor thief.
Reacting on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, Mr Anjuguri Manzal said he had not been briefed about the incident and would therefore not comment on it.
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