The Nation News online has taken to its official X handle and announced that, the Residents of Karofi, a suburb of Jalingo, Taraba State, were left in disbelief and outrage on Wednesday after an aide to Governor Agbu Kefas, identified as Alhaji Bello Kasimu, allegedly stabbed a 19-year-old mentally challenged teenager in a violent attack.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when a security guard at a pure water factory, Tapawa, raised an alarm that he had apprehended a suspected intruder within the premises. Tapawa immediately alerted his employer, Kasimu, who also happens to be one of the aspirants in the forthcoming Jalingo Local Government elections.
Eyewitnesses alleged that upon arriving at the scene, Kasimu retrieved a sharp knife from the boot of his car and repeatedly stabbed the teenager, later identified as Adamu, branding him a thief. The attack reportedly left the victim with multiple deep cuts and in critical condition.
Speaking to journalists, human rights activist Gambo Dauda described the incident as “a disturbing act of jungle justice.” According to Dauda, further investigation revealed that the victim was not a thief but a mentally challenged boy well known to residents of the area.
> “We received distress calls from Karofi around 5 pm. On getting there, we saw the victim with knife wounds all over his body. Residents told us it was Bello Kasimu who carried out the attack. From my interaction with the boy, it was clear he was mentally unstable, as his responses were incoherent and uncoordinated,” Dauda stated.
He added that the victim was initially brutalized by the security guard, who tied him up before Kasimu arrived and allegedly carried out the stabbing.
The teenager was rescued by officers from the Karofi Police Outpost and rushed to the police clinic in Jalingo, where he is currently receiving treatment. Sources at the Jalingo Police Division confirmed that Kasimu was invited for questioning, where he gave his statement, but was later released on bail under controversial circumstances.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Taraba State Police Command proved abortive as his phone lines remained unreachable at press time.
When contacted by our correspondent, Kasimu initially requested time to respond to the allegations but later refused to answer further calls.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked widespread condemnation across Jalingo, with many residents expressing anger over the treatment of a mentally challenged individual who, according to them, had never been known for criminal activity but merely roamed the streets.
Civil society groups are already calling on the authorities to ensure that justice is served and to send a strong message that no one, regardless of political connection, is above the law.
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