Amnesty International calls for investigation into death of teenager in Katsina police custody

Sunday, May 10, 2026 -Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to urgently investigate the alleged torture and killing of a 16-year-old boy, Bishir Malam Dauda, while in police custody in Katsina State.

According to them, Bishir was allegedly tortured to death by officers attached to the ‘Yankara police outpost in Faskari Local Government Area after being arrested over the alleged theft of a bag of soya beans.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Saturday, Amnesty said its investigation revealed that the teenager was subjected to severe beatings with iron rods after he was picked up from his Tsangaya school on May 7, 2026.

The organization alleged that Bishir was arrested after one of his friends mentioned his name during a police investigation into the reported theft.

“Unaccompanied and without the presence of any adult relation, Bishir was tied by the police and asked to make a confession. He refused. Then he was tortured more until he became lifeless,” the statement said.

Amnesty International further alleged that officers later deposited the teenager’s body at the ‘Yankara Primary Healthcare Centre.

The rights organization described the incident as part of what it called a wider pattern of human rights violations and abuse by the police.

“What happened to Bishir Malam Dauda exposes a pattern of ruthless human rights violations in which victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released,” Amnesty International stated.

The group accused the police of operating with impunity and fostering fear and corruption among citizens.

“Nigeria Police, which was created to protect the people has instead become a danger to society, torturing its victims with complete impunity while fomenting a toxic climate of fear and corruption,” the organization added.

Amnesty International demanded that all officers allegedly involved in the incident, both directly and indirectly, be identified and prosecuted.

“This incident must not be swept under the carpet. Police officers involved in this atrocity, directly and indirectly, must be held to account,” the statement said.

The organization also noted that its research since 2016 has consistently documented cases of torture, unlawful detention and brutality by members of the Nigeria police force against citizens accused of crimes.