A 20-year-old man, Aliyu Nuhu, is lucky to be alive after vigilante members in Zaria allegedly hammered a five-inch nail into his skull during an interrogation over the alleged theft of a chicken.
The horrifying incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, occurred in the Anguwar Sirdi area of Limancin Kona Ward, Zaria City, Kaduna State.
The victim’s father, Mallam Salisu Nuhu, popularly known as Babande, recounted the traumatic ordeal to journalists, describing how a simple errand to sell a chicken at the market escalated into a life-threatening encounter with self-appointed enforcers.
According to Babande, he had sent his son to the market to sell a chicken. When Aliyu failed to return home, a family friend raised the alarm, informing him that vigilante members had arrested his son on suspicion of theft. Upon rushing to the vigilante office, Babande was told that his son had been detained and that a N5,000 “bail” fee was required for his release.
“When I arrived, they told me my son had stolen something and I needed to pay N5,000 before they could release him. I told them I had no money, so they allowed me to take him home,” Babande narrated.
It was only after returning home that the family discovered the extent of the brutality inflicted on the young man. Aliyu complained of severe headache and dizziness, and upon closer examination, family members noticed a fresh wound on his scalp. When they parted his hair, they made the gruesome discovery: the head of a five-inch nail embedded in his skull.
“I asked him what happened, and he told me that one of the vigilante members, Nuhu Dan Banga, had hammered a nail into his head during interrogation,” Babande said, his voice trembling with emotion.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Aliyu Nuhu recounted the moment of his torture. He confirmed that he was accused of stealing a chicken and subjected to brutal interrogation.
“They tied my hands and started questioning me. When I denied stealing anything, one of them, Nuhu Dan Banga, brought out a hammer and a nail. He placed the nail on my head and hammered it in. The pain was unbearable. I screamed, and then I lost consciousness,” Aliyu recounted.
He remained unconscious for an unknown period and only regained awareness when his father arrived at the vigilante office. By then, the nail was already embedded in his skull, though the full extent of his injury was not immediately apparent due to bleeding and swelling.
Upon discovering the nail, the family immediately returned to the vigilante office with one of the suspects, identified simply as Nuhu. They were directed to a local chemist, but the attendant, recognizing the severity of the injury, referred them urgently to the Ahmadu Barau University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika.
However, hospital authorities informed them that treatment could not commence without a police report. Babande was forced to navigate the bureaucracy of the Zaria City Divisional Police Headquarters before his son could receive medical attention. As a result of the delay, the nail remained lodged in Aliyu’s skull for 13 agonizing days before it was finally surgically removed.
The family has so far spent over N800,000 on medical bills, depleting their savings and forcing them to borrow from relatives and well-wishers.
Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Zaria City Division, Nura Abubakar, stated that one suspect had been arrested, while another was still at large. He assured the public that a thorough investigation was underway and that the suspects would face prosecution once investigations were concluded.
“We have taken the matter seriously. One suspect is in our custody, and we are actively pursuing the second suspect. Justice will be served,” the DPO stated.
This incident has reignited debate over the conduct of local vigilante groups in Nigeria, particularly in northern states where such groups often operate with minimal oversight and are accused of meting out extrajudicial punishments.
Human rights activists have repeatedly called for the regulation and professionalization of vigilante groups, warning that unchecked powers often lead to abuses. In this case, the alleged punishment—hammering a nail into a suspect’s skull—bears the hallmarks of extrajudicial torture, which constitutes a gross violation of fundamental human rights under both Nigerian law and international conventions.
Residents of Anguwar Sirdi expressed shock at the level of brutality allegedly meted out to Aliyu. Many noted that while community security is necessary, it must not descend into lawlessness.
“This is not justice; this is savagery. Even if he stole, the proper thing is to hand him over to the police, not to hammer a nail into his head,” said Malam Idris Musa, a community elder.
As Aliyu Nuhu begins the slow process of recovery, both physically and psychologically, the incident stands as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unregulated security actors and the urgent need for accountability. The family, meanwhile, awaits the promised prosecution while grappling with the financial and emotional toll of an ordeal that began with a single chicken.
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