- Man's hand to be amputated for severing boy's limb
- Incident occurred at wedding ceremony in Gombe
- Court orders compensation for victim's medical expenses
A Gombe State High Court has handed down a severe sentence to Abdullahi Suleiman, ordering the amputation of his right hand for severing the hand of a 14-year-old boy, Khalifa Abubakar, with a machete.
The incident occurred on February 12, 2022, during a wedding ceremony that turned violent. According to the police, Abdullahi used a machete to clear the crowd, striking Khalifa and severing his right hand.
Khalifa was rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe, where he received treatment. His family reported the case to the police station in Deba, leading to Abdullahi’s arrest.
Although Abdullahi was initially granted bail, the government took over the case, and the State Counsel, Barrister Y.G. Ahmad, filed a suit at the Gombe State High Court No. 5.
During the trial, five prosecution witnesses, including Khalifa, testified against Abdullahi. Three eyewitnesses confirmed that Abdullahi struck Khalifa, and a medical doctor provided expert testimony on the nature of the injury and treatment provided.
Abdullahi presented two witnesses in his defense, but their testimonies were deemed insufficient. After evaluating the evidence, the court found Abdullahi guilty and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N50,000. He was also ordered to pay N134,540 as compensation for Khalifa’s medical expenses.
In a striking directive, the court ordered the amputation of Abdullahi’s right hand, mirroring the injury he inflicted on Khalifa.
