Hannatu Bello, the sister of Abdullahi Bello, who was killed around the Rantiya community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, has recounted how her younger brother was beaten to death after being mistaken for a Fulani.
Brother Left Home, Never Returned
Speaking to Daily Trust, Hannatu said after her brother left home on Sunday, she received a call from a police officer, who said Bello was found beaten to death by unknown individuals. She said her brother had features that made him look Fulani, but he was not. She condemned the incident and described it as an inhumane act.
Hospital Visit Reveals Brutal Attack
“I was called through my brother’s phone number and told that he was seen lying on the ground. He had been taken to the hospital in Dadin Kowa,” she narrated. “I asked the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) handling the case if he was okay, but he told me to come to the hospital in Dadin Kowa. I took our mother and we went together. We met him unconscious.”
“I asked the IPO about what happened to my brother. He said they were on patrol around 3:00 a.m. on Monday, when vigilantes reported that he had been beaten by some people who mistook him for Fulani. From what we saw on his body, he was macheted and strangled, with blood coming from his mouth. The IPO asked me if the deceased was Fulani. I said no. He was not Fulani. He was my blood brother and we are not Fulani,” she said.
Family Demands Justice
The relatives are calling on the Plateau State Police Command to investigate the matter and arrest the perpetrators, since his phone is still in police custody. “Now that his phone is with the police, they should track his calls and find the last person who called him before the incident. We are calling on the government to ensure justice for the deceased. We are peaceful people and we want justice. We are confident that the state government will do justice for the victim,” she added.
