Headquarters 8 Division, Nigerian Army has dismissed allegations of torture and dehumanizing treatment at its Provost Group Detention Facility in Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto, following the death of Lance Corporal Bala Hudu. Responding to an online petition by Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said the claims of reprisal attacks and brutality are “categorically false and a gross misrepresentation” of the facility, which adheres to international standards.
Providing details, the Division said the late Lance Corporal Hudu was under investigation and court martial for killing a commercial motorcycle operator in Katsina State in April 2023. During proceedings, he was found to have underlying health conditions including hyperopia, allergic conjunctivitis, and high blood pressure, and received constant medical care at the 8 Division Medical Services and Hospital. He was granted unrestricted access to family and legal counsel, and had a nursing assistant assigned to him. On 15 April 2026, he was admitted with headache, body weakness, and rapid breathing, and diagnosed with severe right lobar pneumonia and malaria. His condition deteriorated, leading to his death on 17 April 2026, likely from complications of his underlying ailments.
Following his death, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division immediately convened an independent Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances. Lt. Col. Osoba said the process is ongoing, transparent, and thorough, in line with military protocols. He reaffirmed the Division’s zero-tolerance stance on torture or degrading treatment, noting that detainees receive routine medical evaluations and that operations follow the Armed Forces Act and Section 34 of the Constitution. The Division invited Chief Omirhobo and interested parties to testify before the BOI from 29 April to 10 May 2026, urging the public to disregard “baseless allegations” and trust ongoing investigations.
