The Plateau State Chief Judge, Justice David Mann, has sentenced a police officer, Sergeant Ruya Auta, to death by hanging for killing a 300-level University of Jos student, Rinji Bala.
In a judgment delivered at the Plateau State High Court 1 in Jos, Justice Mann pronounced the death sentence by hanging or lethal injection, after finding the officer guilty of culpable homicide.
The court said the verdict followed a thorough review of the prosecution’s evidence, witness testimonies, and an independent evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It added that the sentence was aimed at upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability, particularly in cases involving unlawful use of force by security personnel.
Rinji Bala, a 300-level student of the University of Jos, was shot dead on May 12, 2020, after being taken into custody along with two friends near the Hwolshe area of Jos while taking a stroll during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The victim, Bala, and his friends were reportedly apprehended, searched, and detained despite no incriminating evidence being found on them.
It was gathered that after being beaten and released, they were ordered to run. It was at that point that the police officer Auta, shot Rinji in the back, killing him instantly.
The Prosecuting counsel, Dr. Garba Pwul (SAN), who secured a fiat from the Plateau State Attorney-General to represent the state, expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
“The judgment was expected, as the convict did not deny the offence. He only claimed it was an accidental discharge. The prosecution, however, established that he intended to shoot, given that the victim was hit in the back, around the waist,” he said.
Also reacting to the judgment, father of the late student, Mr. Peter Bala, said no sane person celebrates another’s death but emphasized that the law had taken its course.
“The truth is, the law is the law; that is all l, I can say,” he stated.He also expressed hope that the ruling would serve as a deterrent to security personnel who misuse their firearms.
