The widow of a serving police inspector, Ahmadu Babayo, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, alleging that her husband died two days after being released from 35 days of unlawful detention in critical medical condition.
In a petition dated October 28, 2026, Mrs Fatima Ibrahim Jalo demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Babayo’s detention, release and subsequent death.
Babayo, who was attached to the State Intelligence Department at the Borno State Police Command headquarters in Maiduguri, was allegedly taken into custody on September 21 and detained until October 26 without being arraigned before a court or presented with a lawful order authorising his continued detention.
Jalo accused Assistant Inspector-General of Police Emmanuel Egene of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Gombe, Borno State Commissioner of Police Naziru AbdulMajid and three other officers of involvement in, or failure to prevent, the alleged unlawful detention.
The other officers named in the petition are ASP Usman, CSP Musa Alhaji Hussaini and Inspector Monday Usman.
The widow further alleged that Egene directed the Borno State police commissioner to keep her husband in detention “until death.”
According to the petition, Babayo was released to his wife on October 26 in critical medical condition and died on October 28 after receiving medical attention in Maiduguri.
Jalo attributed his death to the circumstances surrounding his detention and release, urging the police authorities to establish what happened and hold those found responsible accountable.
She also questioned the medical report signed by ACP Nasiru Egga, alleging that its stated cause of death was inconsistent with her husband’s condition when he was released from custody.
The petitioner therefore requested an independent forensic review of the report and a post-mortem examination to establish the actual cause and circumstances of death.
She urged the IGP to constitute an investigative panel independent of the officers and police formations mentioned in the petition.
She also demanded the preservation and production of relevant evidence, including custody registers, duty rosters, communications, detention orders, medical records and available CCTV footage.
Among other requests, Jalo called for the suspension of the officers under investigation, or their removal from positions that could allow them to interfere with the inquiry, pending its conclusion.
She further sought disciplinary action and prosecution of any officer found culpable, compensation, payment of her late husband’s outstanding entitlements and benefits, and protection for her family and potential witnesses against intimidation or reprisals.
The petition cited alleged violations of constitutional rights to personal liberty, life and dignity, as well as possible offences bordering on unlawful detention, abuse of office and culpable homicide.
Jalo said her husband served in the Nigeria Police Force for 23 years. She also alleged that his salaries for September and October 2026 were stopped on the directive of the Borno State Commissioner of Police.
Copies of the petition were forwarded to the Police Service Commission, Attorney-General of the Federation, National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, National Security Adviser and the Senate and House of Representatives committees on police affairs, among other authorities.
The widow warned that she reserved the right to pursue legal action if the police failed to give the matter prompt and satisfactory attention.
