The deceased Saidu Sani (Dattijo) By Zailani Mustapha Following the brutal killing of Dattijo, an innocent man wrongly accused of theft ...
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| The deceased Saidu Sani (Dattijo) |
Following the brutal killing of Dattijo, an innocent man wrongly accused of theft and beaten to death in Zaria, his family and friends have vowed to pursue justice. Outraged by the false accusations and the violent actions that led to his death, they are calling on authorities to arrest and prosecute those responsible. "We will not rest until justice is served," said a close family friend. "This act of cruelty and the lies spread about Dattijo cannot go unpunished. The perpetrators must be held accountable for this senseless tragedy."
A family friend of the late Dattijo, who was beaten to death in Jushi, Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State, has also refuted earlier reports that claimed he was a thief.
Previous reports from Sahara Reporters alleged that the crisis began when a Hausa boy was caught entering a woman’s house in a Yoruba community, leading to his capture and subsequent death after being taken to the local leader’s palace.
However, a friend of the deceased’s family, speaking to DAILY STRUGGLE newspaper, disputed these claims. He stated that Dattijo had been resting in the community after working on the farm when an operative from the Kaduna Vigilante Service (KADVS) falsely accused him of theft and harassed him.
"The incident occurred because he was sitting in front of a house, resting after returning from the farm. A KADVS operative confronted him, harassing him and accusing him of theft. The officer began beating him and shouting 'thief' until Dattijo could no longer breathe properly. He was then taken to the Emir’s palace and falsely reported as a thief,” the family friend explained.
He further added that some youths from Unguwan Mai Godo attempted to retaliate but couldn’t, as those they targeted were hiding in their homes. Although some property was damaged, no significant harm was done. He urged those spreading false information to retract their statements and apologize to Dattijo's family.
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| The Chief Imam of Sabon Gari Juma'at Mosque, Sheikh Ibrahim Saidu, led the funeral of Saidu (Dattijo). Among the participants were the DPO of Sabon Gari, the local community leader Mu'azu Abdullahi, and other community leaders. Photo Credit: Ammar M. Rajab. |
In a statement issued by Usman Idris Abdullahi, Public Relations Officer of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Sabon Gari LGA Branch) and the student leader of Sabon Gari Local Government, the earlier reports were firmly debunked.
The statement was also addressed to the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi (House of Representatives member for Sabon Gari), the Chairman of Sabon Gari LGA, and security agencies including the DSS and police.
The statement read: “I want to draw the attention of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), the Police, and other relevant authorities to the misleading information spread by certain media outlets regarding the incident in Jushi Ward, Sabon Gari, Zaria. Such misinformation does not promote peace.
"For clarification, the person referred to as a 'Hausa boy' is a young man named Saidu, known as Dattijo. He had returned from farming and was resting, eating bread and drinking Fanta (a soft drink) when he was attacked and falsely accused of theft. His attackers beat him severely, filled his mouth with sand and a toxic substance, and prevented him from asking for water before taking him to the village head. Sadly, he was declared dead at the hospital."
Abdullahi also expressed concern over the ethnic labelling of Saidu as merely a "Hausa boy," warning that such narratives fuel division. He added that if Saidu had committed a crime, the proper action would have been to hand him over to the authorities, not resort to vigilante justice.
"I urge authorities to intervene and find a constructive resolution. Media outlets must stop spreading sensationalized and divisive narratives that only worsen tensions," the statement concluded.
The incident has sparked unrest in the community, with many calling for the perpetrators responsible for the death of Saidu Sani, also known as Dattijo, to be brought to justice.
The funeral of Saidu, popularly known as Dattijo, was led by the Chief Imam of Sabon Gari Juma'at Mosque, Sheikh Ibrahim Saidu. The solemn event brought together members of the community, including key figures like the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Sabon Gari, the local community leader Mu'azu Abdullahi, and other prominent leaders.
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