Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has ordered the immediate suspension of key officials at the Babbar Ruga Reformatory Centre following a disturbing case of torture that led to the amputation of an inmate’s hand and severe injury to another.
The decision was made after the state government received a detailed report from a committee set up to investigate the incident involving a young inmate, Usman Musa.
The report indicted several staff members for gross misconduct and abuse of power.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari, those suspended include the Principal of the Centre, Abdulzahir Abubakar; the Vice Principal, Bala Abubakar; and a porter, Yunusa Yusuf.
The statement, which was released through the Chief Press Secretary to the SSG, Abdullahi Yar’adua, noted that the state government viewed the incident as a serious violation of human rights and an unacceptable abuse of the trust placed in correctional officers.
In a further move to enforce accountability, the governor also approved the immediate dismissal of a casual staff member, Murtala Suleiman, who was directly implicated in the physical abuse of the victim.
To support the victim’s rehabilitation, Governor Radda approved ₦970,000 to cover his medical expenses and an additional ₦35 million for the procurement of a sensor-enabled prosthetic hand to aid his recovery and reintegration into society.
The governor also endorsed the full implementation of reform recommendations proposed by a special committee chaired by the Special Adviser on Public Administration and Service Reforms, Alhaji Usman Isiyaku.
The committee is expected to oversee the upgrade of the reformatory centre to meet international standards and to ensure strict compliance with humane correctional practices going forward.
Governor Radda reaffirmed his administration’s zero tolerance for abuse in state-run institutions, stressing that disciplinary actions such as these were essential to restoring public confidence and upholding the rule of law.
