A tragic phone repair dispute in Adamawa has led to a young technician’s death.
Eyewitnesses say a soldier assaulted him after a delay in fixing his girlfriend’s device.
A tragic incident in Mayo-Belwa, Adamawa State, has drawn widespread condemnation after a young mobile phone technician was allegedly beaten to death by a soldier over a phone repair delay.
The victim, identified as Alkasum Ibrahim, reportedly lost his life after being assaulted by a Nigerian Army officer, Lance Corporal Ahmada A. The soldier was said to have attacked him because of a delay in fixing his girlfriend’s mobile phone.
Witnesses said the woman had submitted her phone at Alkasum’s shop for repairs. When the work was not completed as quickly as expected, she reportedly contacted her boyfriend, who arrived at the shop in anger.
Without giving any explanation or chance for dialogue, the soldier allegedly launched a violent attack on Alkasum, beating him in broad daylight as stunned residents watched in horror. The young technician eventually lost consciousness and later died from the injuries he sustained.
“It was heartbreaking to watch,” said Nuruddeen Abubakar, a witness at the scene. “The boy was just hustling to survive. He didn’t deserve to die over something so minor.”
The suspect has since gone into hiding, leaving Alkasum’s grieving family and the wider community demanding accountability.
A local youth leader expressed his frustration over the incident: “This is the height of impunity. How can a man trained to protect the public turn into a killer over a phone? This is unacceptable.”
Human rights groups have stepped into the matter, describing the act as outright murder and demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the soldier involved.
“This isn’t just about abuse of power it’s a case of murder. The authorities must ensure that this soldier is brought to justice without delay,” one of the organisations said in a statement.
The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed awareness of the case. According to the police spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, the matter is currently under internal review by the military, and the suspect is expected to be handed over to the police for further action.
“We’ve received information about the incident. The military is conducting its own investigation and is expected to cooperate fully with the police,” Nguroje said.
The bereaved family of Alkasum, supported by civil rights advocates, is now calling for justice to be served swiftly and fairly.
