Outrage as Widow Accuses Police of Killing 27-Year-Old Son in Niger State
Minna, Niger State – A tragic incident has sparked outrage and grief in the Angwa-Kaje area of Maitumbi, Minna, as a widow, Aisha Hassan, has accused operatives of the Niger State Police Command of killing her 27-year-old son, Sani Khalid, in cold blood.
The heart-wrenching event unfolded in the early hours of March 10, 2025, when Khalid stepped outside to get fresh air around 3 a.m. due to the hot weather. Moments later, a police patrol vehicle arrived, and within seconds, gunshots rang out. Aisha, a 45-year-old mother of nine who has been widowed for 11 years, recounted the chilling moment she found her son lifeless on a bench at a tea vendor’s shop.
“I Shook Him, But He Was Lifeless”
Narrating her ordeal to Arewa PUNCH, Aisha revealed how she heard the second gunshot and immediately sensed that someone had been shot. Running outside in search of her son, she found Khalid lying motionless.
“I shook him to wake him up, but he didn’t move. When I shook him again, he rolled down from the bench to the floor. That was when I screamed, realizing that the police had shot my son,” she wept.
Neighbors rushed to the scene and hurriedly transported Khalid to the hospital, where doctors confirmed his death.
An Unarmed Victim & Allegedly Drunk Officer
Eyewitnesses in the area claimed that Khalid was unarmed and posed no threat. One of them, identified as Ibrahim, said that the police officer who fired the shot appeared to be intoxicated and also attempted to shoot the tea vendor, who barely managed to escape.
“The policeman was drunk when he stepped down from the patrol van. He shot Khalid in the stomach while he was lying on the bench. He then tried to shoot the mai shai, but the vendor ran for his life. There was no fight, no unrest—nothing to warrant police intervention,” Ibrahim stated.
Residents condemned the killing, describing it as an act of sheer recklessness by the police. Khalid, a promising footballer and trader, was said to be the breadwinner of his family following the death of his father. His mother is now left grieving, with eight other children to care for.
Police Response: “It Was a Stray Bullet”
In response to the allegations, the Niger State Police Command, through its spokesman Wasiu Abiodun, admitted that Khalid was killed by police gunfire but described it as an “unfortunate stray bullet.”
According to Abiodun, the police patrol team was responding to a distress call about a group of youths allegedly causing unrest in the area. He claimed that when the police arrived, they were attacked with stones, prompting one officer to fire shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
“In a bid to disperse the boys, one of the patrol team members fired gunshots, and a stray bullet allegedly hit Sani Khalid in the stomach,” Abiodun stated.
He added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Maitumbi has been directed to investigate the incident and identify the officer responsible for necessary disciplinary actions.
However, Abiodun remained silent on the allegations that the officer who fired the shot was under the influence of alcohol.
Demand for Justice
The killing of Khalid has ignited public outcry, with residents and human rights advocates calling for justice. Many have criticized the police’s handling of the situation and demanded an independent investigation to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, Aisha Hassan remains inconsolable, calling on authorities to hold those responsible accountable. “Sani was all I had. Now they have taken him from me. They must bring back my son,” she sobbed.
As the nation watches, the people of Niger State wait for justice to be served.
