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A disturbing incident in Taraba State has sparked nationwide outrage after a police inspector was arrested for allegedly killing his 11-year-old nephew and secretly burying him. The shocking case unfolded in Jalingo when angry residents attacked the officer before other policemen arrived to rescue him. The tragedy has renewed conversations about police abuse, accountability, and child protection in Nigeria.
Mob Attacks Inspector After Discovery of Child’s Death
According to an internal police wireless message sent to the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, the incident came to light on December 5, 2025, when officers of the GRA Division in Jalingo responded to a distress call. The call reported that a policeman was being beaten by an angry crowd. When detectives arrived at the scene, they found Inspector Philemon Ayuba, service number AP/No. 335430, on the ground as residents assaulted him while shouting accusations. The mob insisted that the officer had killed a young boy named Hosanna Yunana, who had been living with him in the Nyabunkaka area.
Confession Revealed In Police Signal Message
After Inspector Ayuba was rescued and taken into custody, he reportedly made a confession during interrogation. According to the wireless message, the incident started on the evening of December 3, when Ayuba confronted the boy for allegedly stealing sixty thousand naira from him. The message stated that the child ran towards a riverside after he was questioned. The inspector allegedly pursued him, caught up with him and beat him until he collapsed. Ayuba confessed that the boy died during the assault. Instead of reporting the incident, he buried the remains in a shallow grave.
Body Recovered, Case Transferred For Investigation
The police signal further explained that Inspector Ayuba later took detectives to the exact location where he buried the child. He even helped in exhuming the decomposing remains. The corpse was then evacuated and taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, for postmortem examination to officially determine the cause of death. Meanwhile, the suspect has been placed in custody, and the case is set to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.
Video Emerges As Public Demands Justice
A video circulating online shows the moment the officer was lying helplessly on the ground before police personnel intervened. In the clip, residents can be heard shouting in the background while officers attempted to control the situation. The footage has further intensified public anger as many Nigerians call for justice for the young boy, demanding that the investigation be transparent and that the suspect face the full weight of the law. The tragic case highlights once again the need for stronger oversight, better psychological evaluation of officers and more robust enforcement of child protection laws across the country.
