A Plateau state High Court sitting in Jos has sentenced a police officer, Sgt. Ruya Auta, to death for the killing of a University of Jos student, Rinji Bala.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday by the Chief Justice of Plateau State, Justice David Mann, at High Court 1. The court found the officer guilty of culpable homicide and ordered that he be executed by hanging.
Rinji Bala, a 300-level student of the University of Jos, was shot dead on May 12, 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. He was with two of his friends near the Hwolshe area of Jos when they were arrested by the police.
It was established in court that the three young men were searched and nothing illegal was found on them. Despite this, they were beaten and later told to run after being released. As Rinji ran, he was shot from behind by the officer and died immediately.
After the judgment, the prosecuting lawyer, Dr. Garba Pwul (SAN) explained that although the officer claimed the shooting was a mistake, the evidence showed that Rinji was shot in the back, proving it was not accidental.
Rinji’s father, Peter Bala said “No sane person celebrates the death of another person, but the law has taken its course,” he said.
He added that he hopes the ruling will serve as a deterrent to other security officers against careless use of their weapons.
Police Sergeant sentenced to death for killing Uni-Jos student
