A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has sentenced a police officer, Ruya Auta, to death by hanging or lethal injection for the killing of Rinji Bala, a University of Jos (UNIJOS) student, on May 13, 2020.
The judgment was delivered on December 8 by Justice David Mann, who ruled that the officer violated the victim’s fundamental right to life.
Speaking after the verdict, counsel to the Plateau State Government, Garba Pwul (SAN), described the ruling as the outcome of “five years of efforts and tenacity” to secure justice for the deceased, his family, and the state.
“Today, we have seen justice served,” Pwul said, expressing hope that the sentence would deter security personnel who misuse their weapons.
He added, “We hope that this judgment will serve as a deterrent to trigger-happy and dangerously negligent uniformed men and provide some measure of comfort to the deceased’s family.”
The court had earlier awarded a substantial nine-figure compensation to Bala’s family, declaring that the officer’s actions amounted to a violation of the student’s right to life.
Reacting to the ruling, Emmanuel Gyang, a friend who witnessed the incident, said the judgment brought back painful memories rather than a sense of victory.
He recalled feeling “terribly bad” since the day Bala was killed and said the ruling had reopened emotional wounds.
Bala was shot dead by the officer attached to the Special Task Force (STF) during a peacekeeping operation in Plateau State on May 13, 2020, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability.