Niger Monarch Etsu Nupe’s Security Personnel Brutalise Man Over Post Faulting Him ‘For Not Celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday’
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Date of OccurrenceSeptember 18, 2026
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State/CountryBida, Niger, Nigeria
Description
Security personnel attached to the traditional institution of the Etsu Nupe in Bida, Niger State, have arrested and tortured a man identified as Yahaya after he accused the monarch, Etsu Yahaya Abubakar, of celebrating his birthday rather than Maulud.
The incident reportedly occurred in Bida, where community sources told Sahara Reporters that the man was taken into custody by local security personnel, popularly known as Dogari, attached to the traditional ruler.
According to the sources, the man had made comments questioning whether an event organised by the Etsu Nupe was actually a Maulud celebration or a birthday ceremony.
The sources alleged that rather than allowing the matter to be investigated or determining through due process whether the comments amounted to defamation, the traditional security personnel took the law into their own hands.
A community source familiar with the incident told Sahara Reporters that the man was allegedly subjected to torture after his arrest.
“He was arrested by the local security personnel of the traditional ruler on Thursday. They took the law into their own hands without any trial to determine whether what the boy said was actually defamatory or not,” the source said.
“The man only said that Etsu Bida or Etsu Nupe was not doing Maulud but was celebrating his birthday. After that, he was arrested and tortured by the Dogari attached to the Etsu Nupe.”
“His video went viral on September 16. And let’s say the traditional ruler found it offensive, why are they taking the law into their own hands?” the source asked.
The development has generated concern among some residents who questioned the use of traditional security personnel to punish an individual over comments that could have been addressed through lawful procedures.
The sources also alleged that the man was not given an opportunity to defend himself or have the claim against him determined before he was subjected to punishment.
Details
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State/CountryBida
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PerpetratorSecurity personnel
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Source
Location
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Bida, Niger, Nigeria
