By Abdurrahman Balarabe Isah
The last may not have been heard about the recent death of Shu’aibu Yusuf, a cleaner at the Nigeria Air Force Hospital in Kano, after an alleged attack he suffered from an Air Force officer.
Grassroots Parrot had reported how Yusuf, who was employed as a cleaner at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Kano, reportedly suffered fatal injuries at the hands of a military officer identified as Oga Aminu and died thereafter.
On Wednesday, the remains of the late Yusuf were finally laid to rest, a week after his death, after an autopsy was conducted to unravel the cause of his death.
Grassroots Parrot exclusively engaged family members of the late Yusuf this week, and they insisted they would not retreat until justice was served.
They were so confident about the alleged complicity of the NAF officer, Oga Aminu, in the demise of their son, hence the reason for spending about N200,000 on an autopsy before the burial.
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Shu’aibu’s stepmom, who raised him after his biological mother’s death, on Friday told our correspondent about what transpired between her late stepson and the NAF officer on that fateful day.
“Yusuf told us that he was eager to go home after his night shift at the Air Force Medical Facility when an officer of the Nigeria Air Force asked him to stay back for an extra task outside his scheduled working hours.”
“As a result, an altercation ensued between him and a trained military officer, leading to a show of force by the latter, who inflicted physical harm on the victim.
“After receiving treatment for the injuries, Yusuf came home to nurse the pains but never lived to see the next day. He died in his sleep.” She lamented.
Also, Yusuf’s closest friend, Usman Mohammad, said he noticed upon Yusuf’s arrival that his white cloth was stained with blood, aside from the visible swelling in his mouth after the alleged molestation.
Shu’aibu’s sudden demise sparked a protest by his Gwagwarwa residents in Nasarawa Local Government Area, leading to the blockage of Airport Road last week before normalcy was restored.
The victim’s family is curious to know the circumstances behind Yusuf’s death, so the headquarters of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) are also investigating the matter.
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While the investigations are ongoing, the NAF headquarters’ preliminary revelation in a statement noted that Yusuf was slapped by the officer after an altercation between the duo over insubordination.
But Yusuf’s father, Shu’aibu Bala Adamu, expressed reservation over the claims, wondering how a slap would spill so much blood that stained the victim’s clothes and left swelling and bruises in some parts of his body.
Adamu, who says the result of the autopsy will come out in the next two weeks, insisted that regardless of the outcome, the family must exhaust all legal avenues to get justice for his late eldest son.
Residents of Gwagwarwa Community are also calling on the concerned authorities to speed up their investigations and ensure that the accused officer is brought to justice if found guilty.
Grassroots Parrot had reported how the Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar, ordered a discreet investigation over the incident.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, quoted Abubakar in a statement as saying that the circumstances surrounding Yusuf’s demise remained unclear.
Gabkwet, however, said that the NAF was committed to uncovering the truth behind Shuaibu’s death and extended condolences to his family.
