20-Year-Old Injured After Vigilante Allegedly Drives Nail Into His Head Over Chicken Theft

A young man, 20-year-old Aliyu Nuhu, has been critically injured after members of a local vigilante group reportedly struck a five-inch nail into his head, alleging he stole a chicken in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The victim’s father, Mallam Salisu Nuhu, known as Babande, has accused the two vigilante members of inflicting severe injuries on his son.

Babande mentioned that he had instructed his son to sell a chicken in the market, but Aliyu was apprehended by the vigilantes, who suspected him of theft.

"They held him and subjected him to harsh treatment, culminating in hammering a five-inch nail into his head," he stated.

Babande recounted that when Aliyu did not return home, a member of the vigilante group took him to their office in Anguwar Sirdi, Limancin Kona Ward, where he learned his son had been detained on theft charges. The vigilantes initially demanded a bail of N5,000 but later released his son after Babande informed them he could not afford the amount.

Upon returning home, he discovered injuries on Aliyu’s head and found out that a nail had been lodged in it. They subsequently returned to the vigilante office and accompanied one of the suspects, identified as Nuhu, to a nearby pharmacy.

The pharmacist recommended they go to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Shika after examining the injury. Babande reported that a police report was necessary before any treatment could be initiated.

He added that the nail remained in his son’s head for a period of 13 days before it was surgically removed, with the family incurring over N800,000 in medical expenses.

Aliyu named Nuhu Dan Banga as the individual responsible for driving the nail into his head during the interrogation, stating that he lost consciousness as a result of the torture.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Zaria City Division, Nura Abubakar, confirmed that one suspect has been detained while another remains at large. He assured that the suspects would face prosecution after investigations are concluded.