Widow alleges police inspector died after 35-day detention, petitions IGP

From** Fred Ezeh, **Abuja

The widow of a police inspector, Ahmadu Babayo, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, over her husband’s death, alleging that he was detained for 35 days and released in critical medical condition before dying two days later.

In the petition dated October 28, 2026, Mrs Fatima Ibrahim Jalo called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death. Babayo served at the State Intelligence Department of the Borno State Police Command headquarters in Maiduguri.

She accused Assistant Inspector-General of Police Emmanuel Egene of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Gombe; Borno State Commissioner of Police, Naziru AbdulMajid; and three other officers — ASP Usman, CSP Musa Alhaji Hussaini and Inspector Monday Usman — of involvement in, or failure to prevent, what she described as her husband’s unlawful detention.

According to Jalo, her husband was taken into custody on September 21 and remained detained until October 26, 2026, without being arraigned before a court or presented with a lawful order authorising his continued detention.

She further alleged that Egene directed the Borno State Commissioner of Police to keep her husband in detention “until death”.

The widow claimed that Babayo was released to her on October 26 in critical medical condition and died on October 28, despite receiving medical attention in Maiduguri.

She urged the police authorities to investigate whether the circumstances of his detention and release contributed to his death and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

Jalo also questioned a medical report signed by ACP Nasiru Egga, alleging that the cause of death stated in the document was inconsistent with her husband’s condition when he was released from custody.

She demanded an independent forensic review of the report and a post-mortem examination to establish the actual cause and circumstances of his death.

The petitioner called on the IGP to constitute an investigative panel independent of the officers and police formations mentioned in the petition, insisting that the inquiry must be transparent and credible.

She also requested the preservation and production of relevant evidence, including custody registers, duty rosters, communications, detention orders, medical records and any available closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding her husband’s detention.

To prevent possible interference with the investigation, Jalo asked that the officers named in the petition be suspended or removed from positions that could enable them to influence the inquiry pending its conclusion.

She further demanded disciplinary action and prosecution against any officer found culpable, as well as compensation and the payment of her late husband’s outstanding salaries, entitlements and benefits.

The widow also sought protection for herself, her family and potential witnesses against intimidation or reprisals.

In the petition, she cited alleged violations of the constitutional rights to personal liberty, life and dignity, alongside possible offences relating to unlawful detention, abuse of office and culpable homicide.

Jalo disclosed that her husband had served in the Nigeria Police Force for 23 years. She also alleged that his salaries for September and October 2026 were stopped on the directive of the Borno State Commissioner of Police.

Copies of the petition were reportedly sent to the Police Service Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Police Affairs, the National Security Adviser and the Senate and House of Representatives committees on police affairs, among other authorities.

The widow said she reserved the right to pursue legal action if the matter did not receive prompt and satisfactory attention.

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