By Ado Oyeyemi
A young inmate, Shamsu Muhammad, has died after sustaining injuries in an alleged attack by another inmate at the Gwauron Dutse Correctional Centre in Kano State.
The incident reportedly occurred after Shamsu allegedly rejected a sexual advance from another inmate, according to a report by Freedom Radio.
Shamsu’s uncle, Bello Muhammad, said the deceased was remanded at the facility by Court 27 in Nomansland, Kano, presided over by Justice Hauwa Abba Musa, over an undisclosed offence.
Bello alleged that shortly after his detention, an inmate approached Shamsu and attempted to engage him in a sexual act.
He said Shamsu resisted the alleged advance, prompting the inmate to bite him severely on the leg.
According to the uncle, the injury was serious and reportedly affected veins in the affected leg.
Bello further alleged that the inmate had previously attacked other newly admitted inmates who rejected similar advances.
He said Shamsu was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment but died after spending several days receiving medical attention.
The family’s lawyer, Garzali Dattijo Ahmed, said the family had approached the court to obtain official documents relating to Shamsu’s death.
Ahmed said the documents would enable the family to formally petition the relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Kano Emirate authorities.
He also raised concerns over the alleged mixing of inmates with mental health challenges and other inmates at the correctional facility, calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
However, the Kano State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service disputed the family’s account of the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, Musbahu Lawal Kofar Nassarawa, said an internal investigation did not establish that Shamsu was attacked because he rejected a sexual proposition.
He confirmed that the deceased sustained an injury but said the inmate received medical attention and was later granted bail.
Kofar Nassarawa maintained that the correctional service had measures in place to protect inmates and prevent the kind of incident alleged by the deceased’s family.
The conflicting accounts have heightened concerns over the circumstances surrounding Shamsu’s death and the safety and welfare of inmates at the facility.
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The family is expected to determine its next legal and administrative steps as it seeks clarification and accountability over the incident.
