Chairmanship Aspirant Stabs Mentally Challenged Teenager in Jalingo

Residents of Karofi, a suburb of Jalingo, Taraba State capital, were thrown into shock and confusion last week when a politician and businessman, Alhaji Bello Kasimu, allegedly attacked and inflicted severe knife injuries on a 19-year-old mentally challenged teenager identified as Adamu.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday morning after a security guard at a water factory, identified as Tapawa, alerted the factory owner, Alhaji Bello Kasimu—who is also an adviser to Governor Agbu Kefas—that he had apprehended a suspected thief who gained access to the premises at night. The guard tied the suspect's hands with ropes before calling his boss.

Kasimu, who is also one of the aspirants in the forthcoming Jalingo Local Government chairmanship elections, allegedly rushed to the factory where he met Adamu tied up by the guard.

Witnesses said Kasimu opened the boot of his car, brought out a sharp knife, and began slicing Adamu's body while calling him a thief, thereby inflicting multiple injuries.

The matter was swiftly reported to the Karofi Police Outpost and to a human rights activist, Gambo Dauda, who also resides in the area.

Speaking to Taraba Truth and Facts, Dauda said initial investigations revealed that the victim, Adamu, was not a thief but a mentally challenged teenager known to residents of the area.

"We received a call from the community around 5 p.m. about the incident. When we arrived, we met the victim with injuries all over his body. We were told it was Bello Kasimu who used a knife to inflict the injuries.

"According to the security guard, Tapawa, he caught Adamu in the factory around 3 a.m. but did not find him with anything. He tied him up and beat him before calling his boss. On arrival, the boss pulled out a knife and began to stab Adamu," Dauda narrated.

He added that his interaction with the victim showed that Adamu was mentally unstable, as his responses were incoherent.

Dauda confirmed that the police intervened and rescued Adamu, who is currently receiving treatment at the Police Clinic in Jalingo.

"In our fact-finding, we gathered from vigilantes that Adamu is mentally challenged and has been roaming the area for about two months. His statements during our interaction were uncoordinated, confirming his condition," Dauda said.

The activist further disclosed that he requested the case be transferred from the Karofi Police Outpost to the Jalingo Police Division for proper handling.

At the Jalingo Police Division, Adamu was reportedly brought in a pool of blood and was immediately rushed to the police clinic.

A senior police officer at the Division confirmed to our correspondent that Kasimu was invited, his statement taken, and later released on bail.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the Taraba State Command were unsuccessful, as all his phone lines were switched off at the time of filing this report.

When contacted by phone, Alhaji Bello Kasimu initially told our correspondent to give him two hours to respond to the allegations. However, he later refused to answer or return subsequent calls.

The attack on Adamu has since attracted widespread condemnation from Karofi residents, who insist the teenager is mentally challenged and not a thief.

"This is man's inhumanity to man. We know Adamu very well, he is mentally unstable and does not steal," said Junaidu, a resident of Karofi.