By Mariam Abeeb
One Mrs. Fatima Ibrahim Jalo, the widow of the late Inspector Ahmadu Babayo, has submitted a formal petition to the Inspector-General of Police requesting an urgent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death.
She alleges that her late husband was unlawfully detained for 35 days and released in critical condition shortly before he died.
It was gathered that inspector Babayo was a serving officer attached to the State Intelligence Department at the Borno State Police Command Headquarters in Maiduguri, having served in the Nigeria Police Force for 23 years.
In the petition dated October 28, 2026, Jalo accused Assistant Inspector-General of Police Emmanuel Egene of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Gombe, Commissioner of Police Naziru AbdulMajid of Borno State, and three other officers—ASP Usman, CSP Musa Alhaji Hussaini, and Inspector Monday Usman of involvement in, or failing to prevent, her husband’s unlawful detention.
he further alleged that AIG Egene directed CP AbdulMajid to keep her husband in custody “until death.”
According to the widow, Inspector Babayo was arrested on September 21, 2026, and remained in custody until October 26, 2026, without being arraigned in court or presented with a valid detention order.
She stated that he was handed over to her in critical medical condition on October 26 and subsequently passed away on October 28 while receiving medical treatment in Maiduguri.
She also claimed that her husband’s salaries for September and October 2026 were stopped on the orders of CP AbdulMajid.
In addition, Jalo questioned the accuracy of a medical report signed by ACP Nasiru Egga, arguing that the documented cause of death contradicts the physical condition her husband was in upon release.
She requested an independent forensic review of the report alongside an official post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
To ensure an impartial inquiry, the petitioner urged the Inspector-General of Police to establish a neutral investigative panel separate from the officers and commands cited in the petition.
She requested the preservation and submission of all relevant custody registers, duty rosters, communications, medical records, and available CCTV footage.
Furthermore, Jalo called for the immediate suspension or redeployment of the named officers to prevent potential interference with the investigation.
She requested that any officers found culpable face disciplinary action and prosecution, while seeking financial compensation, the payment of her husband’s outstanding entitlements, and protective measures for her family and potential witnesses.
The petition highlights alleged breaches of constitutional rights to personal liberty, dignity, and life, alongside potential criminal offenses including unlawful detention, abuse of office, and culpable homicide.
Copies of the petition have been served to the Police Service Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Police Affairs Committees of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
The petitioner noted that she reserves the right to pursue further legal remedies should the matter fail to receive prompt attention.
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