A young inmate, Shamsu Muhammad, has died after sustaining a serious leg injury while in custody at the Gwauron Dutse Correctional Centre in Kano State.
The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked controversy, with his family alleging that he was attacked by another inmate after rejecting an alleged sexual advance.
According to a report by Freedom Radio, Shamsu was bitten on the leg during the incident, with the injury reportedly affecting blood vessels in the affected limb.
The deceased’s uncle, Bello Muhammad, said Shamsu 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 Shamsu told the family that another inmate approached him shortly after his admission and attempted to engage him in a sexual act.
He reportedly declined the advance, after which the inmate allegedly attacked and severely injured his leg.
The family said Shamsu was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment but died after spending several days receiving medical care.
His lawyer, Garzali Dattijo Ahmed, said the family had approached the court to obtain official documentation relating to his death, preparatory to petitioning relevant authorities.
Ahmed also raised concerns about the alleged mixing of mentally ill inmates with other detainees at the facility, saying the family wanted authorities to investigate the circumstances of Shamsu’s death.
However, the Kano State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service rejected the claim that the deceased was attacked because he refused a sexual proposition.
The command’s spokesman, Musbahu Lawal Kofar Nassarawa, said an internal inquiry conducted by the service did not corroborate the family’s account, although he confirmed that Shamsu sustained an injury while in custody.
He said the inmate received medical attention and was later granted bail, insisting that the correctional authorities had measures in place to prevent the type of incident alleged by the family.
The conflicting accounts have heightened calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances of Shamsu’s injury and subsequent death, as his relatives seek clarification and accountability from the authorities.