Gombe End SARS: Alleged killer cop denies beating rape suspect to death
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
A 35 years old, Auwal Musa, with the state Criminal Investigation Department Gombe, on Monday, denied involvement in the death of a reported rape suspect who is now deceased Aliyu Muhammad, in Akko LGA of the state.
Testifying before Gombe State Commission of Inquiry on Special Anti Robbery Squad, other police and security agencies Musa said the deceased was beaten by angry mob absolving Nigeria police force of incidences that led to his demise.
According to Musa, he received a call from an unknown number on the 24th of June 2019 at about 4pm. The caller told him he is Munkaila by name, he reported that Aliyu Muhammad ( the deceased) entered their house and attempted to rape a girl of 18 months old.
He said, “I told Munkaila to come to the station and lodge his complaint, he came 10 minutes later, I took him to the DPO Mai Baba Adamu and he narrated the same story. The DPO asked him Munkaila where we can find Aliyu and he told us that Aliyu will be found in their area at Anguwan Nasarawo. Munkaila said that is possible that he has been apprehended because he left people chasing after him, the DPO Mai Baba Adamu asked Constable Nuruddeen Mohammed and I ( SGT Auwal Musa) to go and arrest the accused ( Aliyu Muhammed).
“Nuruddeen and I used my motorbike and Munkaila used his. When we got to the area, I saw Aliyu Muhammed trying to escape, I recognised him immediately because I knew him before the incident. He was wearing a green coloured shirt, I asked Nuruddeen Mohammed to go after him while I took a possible route that I know he could possibly use to escape.
“I saw Aliyu Muhammed trying to jump over the fence, he fell down and I took the opportunity to arrest him, I held him by the waist and led him to where I parked. I brought out a handcuff and handcuffed him. I looked around for Nuruddeen Mohammed but he was no where to be found, I decided to take the accused to the crime scene so that I can carry the girl (name withheld) for medical examination but five to seven people tried to stop me and decided to take a different route. When I got there, I met Munkaila with two women, the mother of the victim and the victim, the victim ( name withheld) looked drowsy, looking at her condition.”
Musa who had arrested the deceased said Munkaila engaged the alleged in physical combat on the street.
“The other woman identified herself as the mother of the accused ( Aliyu Muhammed), she asked him what he did to the girl and he said he administered diazepam to her, Munkaila got angry and asked him if he ( Aliyu Muhammed) was trying to kill her and he strangled him, by that time crowds were already gathered and started shouting beat him.
“They pushed Munkaila and Aliyu the deceased to the ground, I brought out tear gas and sprayed it which made them disperse leaving Aliyu and Munkaila alone, Munkaila let go of Aliyu and was now coughing. I put Aliyu on the motorbike and head towards the station, Munkaila tried to slap him but Aliyu dodged the slap and i got slapped instead. I met Constable Nuruddeen Mohammed on my way and we went to the station together. I removed the handcuff when we got to the station and Aliyu Muhammed blew his nose and later started picking his nose and he brought out blood and mucus from his nose. I took him to the DCO and left,” Musa said.
While cross examining the respondent,
Barr. Caleb Ubale, counsel to the commission wondered why he did not mention anything about beating of the deceased.
Musa, added that he did not mention anything about beating because he did not beat him.
On his part, Counsel to the petitioner, Ahmad Muhammed who earlier testified in the case asked Auwal Musa if there was any truth to what is in the records that he ( Auwal Musa) slapped and sprayed tear-gas on Aliyu’s face, Musa said, “there is no truth in it because i did not touch the deceased, I only sprayed tear-gas when the crowds were there which affected me too.”
The case was adjourned to 9th February, 2021 for the first respondent Mai Baba Garba’s (DPO) side to be heard.
