Prominent Nigerian Imam D!es in Police Custody

Prominent Nigerian Imam Dies in Police Custody

The family of a young Imam in Kano has expressed concern over his death while under police custody, claiming that he was tortured to death by officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Imam Salim Usman, a 24-year-old who led prayers in Kuntau within the Gwale Local Government Area of Kano metropolis, passed away on Monday shortly after his arrest.

According to witnesses, a police team raided his residence in the Afforestation area of Kuntau at around 7 p.m. on Monday, right after he had led the Magrib prayer. His arrest was allegedly connected to an investigation involving a suspect accused of stealing a bag of flour last year; this individual reportedly identified Usman as the purchaser.

Based on CCTV footage acquired by the family, officers were observed physically assaulting the cleric. The video revealed two policemen involved in the attack—one wearing a uniform and armed, and another dressed in plain clothes.

According to neighbors, the assault persisted even after he was taken into custody, ultimately resulting in his death. They also claimed that other residents who followed the cleric to the station to protest his arrest were subjected to beatings and torture.

Jamilu Haruna, a relative of the deceased Usman, stated that he died on the same day due to injuries sustained while in police custody. He explained: “The police brought his body to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital as an unidentified person, but it was rejected there. They then took him to another facility – Abdullahi Wase Hospital – where his remains were placed in the mortuary.”

Our family submitted a complaint to the police authorities through our lawyer, Adamu Abubakar, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The police stated that they have detained several officers for unprofessional conduct and have begun investigating the incident.

He was laid to rest on Friday following an autopsy at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, for which we paid N90,000. He passed away on 22 September and his burial took place on 26 September after receiving court and police approval for the autopsy. We anticipate receiving the results in four weeks.

The incident has ignited outrage in Kuntau, as residents and members of the late cleric’s congregation express their grief over what they call the murder of an innocent man.

Haruna Kiyawa, the police spokesperson in Kano, did not answer calls or texts requesting a comment.