Orphaned, Injured, and Forgotten: The untold story of Usman Mariri’s struggle for justice.
Usman Muhammad Mariri, a 23-year-old orphan, was shot in the knee in Kasuwar Kanawa, Zamfara state by a police officer.
In his words, while he laid a complaint at the Human Rights Commission Zamfara state branch, he said, “We went to pick debris from a demolished culvert site on a Friday. While we were there, a police officer came and asked us to leave.”
“The next day, which was Saturday, March 20, 2024, at around 6:30 pm, adjacent to the Kasuwar Kanawa area in Gusau of Zamfara State. We went back to the demolished site, and while we were there, the same policeman came back and asked us to give him all the rods we had picked, I refused to hand them over to him because the government has permitted its people to pick debris from government demolished site and this led to the altercation. Before I knew it he shot me on the knee”.
“After he shot me, a police officer came from the police van and took the gun from him. They were about the drive off, but people gathered around them demanding that I be taken to the hospital.”
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“Two days after I was admitted, my brother called the police and told them I needed a surgical procedure. The police and my family funded the surgery”.
“After I was discharged from the hospital, the police who shot me was released from custody. My brother coincidentally met the policeman a few days later and they got into an argument. During the heated conversation, the police officer stated that he shot me because I stole a motorcycle. But fortunately for me, there were witnesses when he shot my knee. And if I truly was a thief, would he have taken me to the hospital and paid for my treatment? Why wasn’t I arrested after being discharged to face the consequences of the crime committed?”
Before the unfortunate incident, Usman was working at a car wash close to the site. Now that he has been rendered handicapped, he finds it difficult to earn a living.
Comrade Hassan Haruna of the National Human Rights Commission, confirming the incident to Neptune Prime, said, “The victim Usman Muhammad Mariri’s case was referred to the National Human Rights Commission’s office on March 5, 2024, at around 5:40 pm. After a series of investigations, we wrote a referral letter to the Commissioner of Police on March 12, 2024.”
Presently, Comrade Umar Salisu has referred the matter to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 10 in Sokoto. The commission awaits their response to enable further necessary actions.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Zamfara state, ASP Yazid Abubakar, informed Neptune Prime that the matter is currently being investigated and any subsequent actions will be communicated at an appropriate juncture.
