A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has sentenced a police sergeant, Ruya Auta, to death by hanging for the killing of a University of Jos student, Rinji Bala, during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice David Mann, held that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the officer “deliberately and unlawfully” took the life of the 300-level student.
Rinji, fondly called “Codex” by friends, was arrested alongside two others on May 12, 2020, around the Hwolshe area of Jos during the enforcement of the lockdown.
Despite finding nothing incriminating on the young men after searching them, the police officers reportedly beat them and later ordered them to run.
According to evidence before the court, as Rinji attempted to run as instructed, Sgt. Auta fired a shot from behind, killing him on the spot.
The court dismissed the officer’s claim that the shooting was accidental, describing the narrative as inconsistent with forensic evidence.
Speaking to journalists after the verdict, the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Garba Pwul (SAN), said the judgment had affirmed the sanctity of human life.
“The officer claimed it was a mistake, but the facts clearly showed that Rinji was shot in the back. That is not an accident. The court has delivered justice based on evidence,” Pwul stated.
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