Take-It-Back Movement Bauchi State Chapter Condemns Police Torture of Member for Praying in Custody, Demands Immediate Justice
The Bauchi State Chapter of the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) has strongly condemn the brutal assault and detention of one of its members by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State, following claims that he was beaten for insisting on observing his prayers while in custody.
The allegation surfaced in a disturbing video obtained by Sahara Reporters, where the victim, whose arms and leg were wrapped in bandages, recounted how police officers tortured him, damaged his iPhone valued at about ₦1.2 million, and denied him adequate medical care while in detention.
Speaking in Hausa in the video, the victim began his testimony with a solemn declaration: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.”
According to him, the ordeal began when he was arrested during a patrol operation by police officers allegedly accompanied by suspected local thugs commonly known as “yan barota.”
“All this injustice you are seeing was done to me by the police in Bauchi State simply because I insisted on performing my prayers inside the cell when they arrested me,” he said.
He called on the public to help amplify his story, saying: “I call on the public to spread this oppression and expose the secret abuses they are committing against ordinary people, so it reaches everywhere even to the office of the Executive Governor of Bauchi State—so that action can be taken.”
The victim alleged that immediately after his arrest, officers descended on him with severe beatings and confiscated his belongings, including his phone, money, cap and shoes, “After arresting me, they beat me severely, stole my phone, my money, my cap, and my shoes. It was only after members of the public intervened and protested that my phone was returned,” he said.
He further claimed that the violence intensified when he requested permission to observe dawn prayers while in detention. “I told them I needed to pray. They said I would not pray—that I was not better than others,” he said. “I told them there is no law that gives a police officer the right to stop a Muslim or anyone of any religion from worshipping, even in a cell. They dismissed me.”
According to him, officers dragged him out of the cell and repeatedly assaulted him.
“They brought sticks into the cell, dragged me out by force, and began beating me. They injured my right arm, then my left arm, and also my leg. They inflicted injuries all over my body.”
Displaying his damaged phone in the video, he added: “The phone I am showing you now was on me during the beating—you can see how badly it was damaged into pieces. That phone is worth about 1.2 million naira, and I will not let this go until I get justice.”
The victim also alleged that he was held in custody for two days without being allowed to see his lawyers or family members, “They denied my lawyers access to me and refused to allow anyone—including my family—to see me. When my condition worsened and they feared I might die in the cell, they finally took me out and brought me to a hospital,” he said.
He claimed that a police doctor warned of serious complications from head injuries and recommended urgent treatment. However, he alleged that the police failed to transfer him to a general hospital, “They took me to the police barracks hospital, but the doctors said my condition was beyond them and that I should be transferred to a general hospital. Instead of doing that, the police returned me to the same station because they feared people would see the extent of the abuse.”
The situation reportedly escalated further when he was taken to court, “When we got there, the magistrate refused to accept my case and instructed them to take me for treatment,” he said, alleging that the Divisional Police Officer attempted to persuade the magistrate to remand him in custody.
According to the victim, the magistrate declined and instead granted him bail while directing that he receive medical care.
Beyond his personal experience, the victim alleged broader human rights abuses within police detention facilities in Bauchi State, including restrictions on religious practices. “In a town where we are Muslims, they say they will arrest more than a hundred people just for praying. By Allah, we will not accept this. Muslims must be given their rights,” he said.
He claimed that nearly 100 detainees were being held in the facility, with some allegedly spending days without being allowed to pray.
“There are nearly 100 people in those cells—some spend five days without praying. Some have spent seven, eight, even ten days without prayer.”
He described the situation as “a violation and humiliation of Muslims.”
Reacting to the allegations, the Bauchi State Chapter of the Take-It-Back Movement issued a statement signed by its coordinator, Nazif Bashi, expressing outrage over the reported incident, “We are deeply outraged by the disturbing report published by Sahara Reporters alleging that a member of the Take-It-Back Movement was brutally assaulted by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State for merely observing prayers while in custody,” the statement read.
The statement said that if the allegations were proven true, they would constitute “a grave violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to dignity, freedom of religion, and protection from torture and inhumane treatment.”
“No citizen should be subjected to such barbarity under any circumstance, especially not in the hands of those entrusted with enforcing the law,” the statement added.
The movement called for immediate action from authorities and listed several demands, including:
- An immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the incident
- The identification and prosecution of all officers involved
- Urgent medical treatment and compensation for the victim
- A public statement from the Bauchi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force addressing the allegations.
TIB also called on civil society organisations, media institutions, and human rights defenders to demand accountability, “Silence in the face of injustice only emboldens perpetrators,” the statement said.
“We will not be intimidated. We will not be silent. Justice must prevail.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force authorities in Bauchi State had not issued any official response to the allegations.
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