The Ministry of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has vowed to ensure justice for Abdulraheem Abubakar, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and a postgraduate student at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, who tragically died in an accident involving Mobile Police personnel.
In a statement on 1st September, Olawande said, ‘This matter is of grave concern to me. I want to assure his family, the youth of Kaduna State, and Nigerians at large that the Nigerian Youth HelpDesk was established precisely to address issues of this nature where young people face injustice, abuse, neglect, or risk of any kind.
‘I have already activated, through the HelpDesk platform, the necessary steps to investigate and verify what actually transpired’.
The incident reportedly took place on 29 August. The victim’s brother, Sabiu Mustapha Abubakar, told reporters that the victim was struck on the head by a police officer while riding on the motorcycle.
Eyewitnesses said bystanders had to insist that he be taken to a hospital.
The family also accused the police of attempting to cover up the incident, claiming instead that the motorcycle collided with a car, a version denied by witnesses.
The Kaduna State Police Command had then clarified that Mustapha was riding at high speed on Sultan Road, near Garkuwa Hospital, when he collided with a stationary Mobile Police vehicle. The passenger reportedly became unconscious while the rider fled the scene.
Police spokesperson Mansir Hassan said, ‘The personnel, rather than abandoning the victim, promptly rushed him to the hospital for medical attention to save his life and equally reported themselves stating their identity and wrote a statement… Unfortunately, despite efforts to save his life, the victim was later confirmed dead while receiving treatment’.
The Ministry of Youth Development further stressed, ‘Following this, we shall engage all relevant stakeholders who are already partners with the Ministry, including the Nigerian Police Force, to ensure that a conclusive and justifiable response is provided in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner’.
‘While we are working diligently to address this matter, I appeal to the youth of Kaduna State to exercise patience, restraint, and decorum, and allow the processes of intervention to take full course’.
He added, ‘Engr. Abdulraheem’s tragic death is a painful reminder of why we must continue to strengthen institutions, demand accountability, and protect the dignity and lives of our young people. The Ministry of Youth Development stands firmly with Nigerian youth and will continue to work in defence of their rights and safety’.
