A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos convicted a police officer, Sgt. Ruya Auta, to death for the murder of Rinji Bala, a student of the University of Jos.
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday by Plateau State Chief Justice Justice David Mann in High Court 1. The court found the officer guilty of culpable homicide and ordered his execution by hanging.
Rinji Bala, a 300-level student of the University of Jos, was shot dead on May 12, 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. He was with two of his friends near the Hwolshe area of ​​Jos when they were arrested by the police.
It was established in court that the three youths were searched and nothing illegal was found on them. Despite this, they were beaten and then told to flee after being released. As Rinji ran, the officer shot him from behind and he died immediately.
After the sentencing, the prosecutor, Dr. Garba Pwul (SAN), explained that although the officer claimed that the shooting was a mistake, evidence showed that Rinji was shot in the back, proving that it was not accidental.
Rinji’s father, Peter Bala, said: “No sane person celebrates the death of another person, but the law has taken its course,” he said.
He added that he hopes the ruling will serve as a deterrent to other security agents from carelessly using their weapons.