Final year nursing student tortured, shot dead in Kogi

A final-year student of Grimard College of Nursing, Anyigba, identified as Andrew Amehson Aziko, has reportedly been tortured and shot dead by local security guards in Okpo, headquarters of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. The incident was said to have occurred on Tuesday, April 28, at Nana College of Health, Ibana, Okpo, after […]

A final-year student of Grimard College of Nursing, Anyigba, identified as Andrew Amehson Aziko, has reportedly been tortured and shot dead by local security guards in Okpo, headquarters of Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident was said to have occurred on Tuesday, April 28, at Nana College of Health, Ibana, Okpo, after the victim was arrested within the school premises.

Sources said the deceased, who was reportedly battling mental health challenges, was accused by the guards of attempting to gain access to the school through an uncompleted section of the fence.

Eyewitness accounts alleged that the guards descended on him, beating him repeatedly with sticks before he was eventually shot.

A resident, Onoja Danjuma, said the victim had been taken home from school for treatment prior to the incident.

“Andrew had mental health issues and was brought back home for treatment when he started behaving abnormally. He was a 400-level student of Grimard College of Nursing, Anyigba,” he said.

According to him, the deceased had been confined in a room at his late father’s compound in Okpo, where he lived with his mother and siblings, but escaped on the night of the incident.

“He found his way to the Okpo–Ankpa road near Nana School of Nursing at Ibana. The security men saw him and took him to their gate, where the interrogation that led to his death began,” Danjuma added.

He further claimed that the guards were familiar with the victim’s late father, who was once a lecturer at Prince Abubakar Audu University before later serving with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“The boy committed no crime. He had no criminal record anywhere,” he said.

The deceased’s cousin, Monday Ujah, described the killing as “abysmal, disheartening and pathetic,” accusing the guards of acting in a barbaric manner.

“Andrew had no bad record. It is unfortunate that people could act without sympathy to the extent of killing him,” he said, calling on authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

He also lamented that the victim’s late father would have demanded justice if he were alive.

Residents of the community said the incident marks the second alleged extrajudicial killing in the area within two months involving local security actors.

When contacted, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, confirmed the incident, saying arrests have been made.

“We have made arrests; a press statement will be released shortly,” he said.