BREAKING: Lawless Army Personnel Torture Residents, Including Children During Demolition Exercise In Kaduna As Victims Suffer Broken Limbs

More than 50 people, including underage boys and girls, have reportedly been beaten and tortured by the Nigerian Army personnel during a violent demolition operation in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Eyewitnesses and community sources revealed to SaharaReporters on Wednesday that the soldiers, allegedly acting under the orders of Major General Usman Abdulmumin Yusuf, the Commandant of the Jaji Military Cantonment, stormed the affected communities at various times and used the butts of their guns to assault residents.

The incident occurred in the communities of Anguwan Malam Auta, Anguwan Aboki, Anguwan Loyal, and Railway, where residents say their homes were demolished despite court order.

 Victims, including children, women, and men, were reportedly arrested, detained in a military guardroom, and subjected to brutal beatings.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows disturbing scenes of injured victims — some with broken heads and visibly bloodshot eyes. Several underage boys appear with dislocated hands and legs, crying in pain as they describe their ordeal.

Community members described the military operation as unlawful and inhumane, accusing the soldiers of excessive use of force and gross human rights violations. 

They called for an independent investigation into the incident and demanded justice for those injured and displaced.

In the video, the victims narrated how they were beaten with the butts of guns and detained for several days in military guardrooms without food or medical care.

Two women in the video described how soldiers confiscated their phones, bags, and other belongings, none of which were returned.

All those arrested and detained by the soldiers claimed they were brutalised without committing any crime, including the children.

A source from the community said the mass arrests took place on August 1, 2025, and more than 50 locals were taken to military guardrooms. 

"All of these peoples comprises Anguwan Malam Auta, Anguwan Aboki, Anguwan loyal and railway.

"The army illegal arrest of more than 50 people of our locals, which was made on 01/08/25 to army guard-rooms."

Some of the detainees were later handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while 38 were transferred to the police headquarters on Tuesday with various injuries.

Another source told SaharaReporters that following a thorough police investigation, no evidence of wrongdoing was found. 

However, the police invited community leaders and representatives of the arrested individuals to facilitate their release, following an order from the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police.

The source added that the majority of those arrested were minors and were granted bail by the police, allowing them to return to their homes.

The community is currently preparing to take the victims to hospitals for proper medical evaluation and treatment.

According to the source, "Few of them were apprehend to NDLEA while 38 of them was evacuated to police HQ yesterday, after torturing them with different wounds. 

"Therefore police thoroughly investigated them finding no single guilty which they invited our loyal and his team with community leaders to go and take them out from the police detentions order by CP kaduna command. 

"Additional the majority of the arrested locals were under age which police grant free bail to evacuate back to their homes.

"More over we are waiting for them right now to take them to hospitals to a certain there health status," the source added.

SaharaReporters previously reported that residents of Anguwan Al Hassan community in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, again lamented how army personnel under the command of Major General Usman Abdulmumin Yusuf, Commandant of the Jaji Military Cantonment, harassed and destroyed their property.

Residents told SaharaReporters on Monday that the soldiers stormed the community in a Gestapo-style operation between 7pm and 10:30pm.

According to source, the soldiers stormed the community in the late hours of Sunday, allegedly harassing married women and children, and demolishing several houses.

"The soldiers arrived on Sunday evening, began harassing women and children in their homes, drove them out, and proceeded with the demolition despite a court order."

Another source told SaharaReporters that the soldiers had been harassing residents since Saturday, with over 50 people reportedly arrested and detained in the guardroom.

The source also accused the Nigerian Army of misleading the public.

According to the source, the army had released a statement to its "media compromisers" denying any demolition. The source claimed that some selected journalists were invited by the Nigerian Army on Saturday.

The source insisted that the army’s claims were completely false and said there is ample evidence, including videos, showing the destruction and the mistreatment of elderly residents — some of whom are currently receiving medical treatment.