Police rescue man locked up for 15 years in Sokoto

By ABUBAKAR AUWAL, Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued a 45-year-old man, Salisu Muhammad, who was allegedly locked up for 15 years by his uncle at Gidan Madi in Tangaza local government area of the state.

Muhammad, who has a grown-up daughter, was said to be mentally deranged.

A Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Human Rights, NGOs and Donor Agencies, Hajiya Ubaida Bello, told Daily Trust that they were alerted to his plight by neighbours who initially thought he was no more alive.

“They initially thought he is no more because he has not been seen in public for over ten years.

“When they got to know about his condition, they quickly notified us.

“It was on that basis, we mobilized some human right activists, policemen, local government officials, including the Sole Administrator of the area, stormed the house and rescued him,” she said.

According to her, during their raid, two women were met in the house, including his 19-year-old daughter who could not tell for how long her father has been incarcerated.

“We met him in a very terrible and horrific situation, urinating and excreting in the same spot without being given any due attention.

“He was even too frail to walk because he is so emaciated.

“So, if their claim that he is mentally deranged is true, why would they continue to keep him for this long without taking him to Psychiatric hospital for treatment,” she asked.

Another account told Daily Trust that the man was locked up by his uncle who has been staying in a nearby village.

Bello noted that the man had been taken to a Psychiatric hospital in Kware by the local government officials while the police were still trying to unravel the motive behind his incarceration.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Muhammad Sadiq, confirmed the incident, saying their preliminary investigation revealed that the man is suffering from a mental problem.

“So far, there is no criminal case established and no arrest is made,” Sadiq said. (Daily Trust)

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