BY USMAN MOHAMMED, FEBRUARY 10, 2026 | 04:11 PM
Hunters in Borno have accused police of killing one of their members, identified as Abdulhadi Musa. Until his death, he was believed to be in the contingent that has been supporting the military in the fight against insurgency.
Musa was confirmed dead while in the custody of the Police Rapid Response Team in Maiduguri. It followed his arrest over allegations of firing his gun on air
The incident with the police occurred in the Kaleri area of the state, where officers arrested two hunters during a routine patrol.
What it was that led to the clash is not yet known.
The deceased, along with a few others, had insisted on the release of their colleagues, which subsequently prompted his own arrest by the police.
During the confrontation, police reportedly fired shots, and Abdulhadi responded by firing into the air.
While the police took the first two hunters into custody, they demanded that Musa reports to the station for a probe regarding his actions.
Musa later reported to the police; however, on Monday, he was reported dead.
Hunters accuse police of killing Musa
This paper gathered that Musa was ordered to report to the station by the commander of the hunters in the Kaleri area, who identified himself as Bashir.
According to Bashir, they were surprised to be told that Musa had passed away because he arrived at the station in good health.
Even though the police claimed Musa had fallen ill in their custody, the hunters alleged that police torture caused his death.
'I called him, and he arrived at the station healthy,' Bashir stated. Bashir later visited the station himself. 'They told us to leave and return the day after. Before we left, I heard an officer say they would kill him,' he said, a claim this paper hasn’t confirmed.
Upon returning the next day, the hunters found Musa unconscious.
'The police claimed he had typhoid and asked us to provide medicine. We refused because he was healthy when he arrived. He died shortly after,' Bashir added.
Sources among the hunters suggested that Musa and two others faced torture in police custody before being transferred to another facility identified as the Tandari, a children’s correctional facility.
Eyewitness speaks, calls for investigation
Muhammad Jazuli, who identified himself as the Sarkin Baka of Jere Local Government area, said he witnessed the incident and noted that the hunters complied with police directives before the situation turned fatal.
Mr. Jazuli, along with Alhaji Mai Gana, leader of the hunters, called for government intervention to properly investigate the matter.
'We tackle insecurity in this state, but we demand justice,' Mai Gana said. 'We call on the Borno State Government to prosecute the perpetrators.'
The Borno State Police Command has not yet issued a statement. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Nahum Daso, failed as his phone has been switched off.
Details shortly.
Conflict Reporting is dangerous and risky. Our reporters constantly face life-threatening challenges, sometimes surviving ambushes, kidnap attempts and attacks by the whiskers as they travel and go into communities to get authentic and firsthand information. But we dare it every day, nonetheless, in order to keep you informed of the true situation of the victims, the trends in the conflicts and ultimately help in peace building processes. But these come at huge cost to us. We are therefore appealing to you to help our cause by donating to us through any of the following means. You can also donate working tools, which are even more primary to our work. We thank you sincerely as you help our cause.
Alternatively, you can also email us on
info@yen.ng or message us
via +234 803 931 7767
