A former commander of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Kolo Yusuf has been, for a long time, infamous for his notoriety in the police force, particularly in Kano State.
SARS was accused of being disreputable for rights abuses, torture, arbitrary killings, and illegal detention of innocent Nigerians before its dissolution in October 2020 following a nationwide protest.
As contained in a documentary released in February 2020 by BBC Africa Eye titled, ‘The Torture Virus,’ a gory scene of how Kolo tormented Hassan Alfa, a Kano-based young man, was depicted. The young prior to his untimely death as a result of the endless torture, was accused of armed robbery. Though the claim, up till now remains unverified.
According to Daily Nigerian, a Federal High Court in Kano had in a case filed by human rights lawyer, Audu Bulama Bukarti, against the police, established that Hassan died from torture while in police detention.
In view of the case, Kolo and other officers of the defunct SARS in Kano were ordered by the court to be investigated by the police and then awarded N10m in costs against the officers involved.
READ: #ENDSARS Report: US Asks FG, Lagos To Ensure Justice, Compensation For Victims
However, Kolo and his men refused to pay the cost, and the investigation by the police was not carried out, WikkiTimes learnt. Kolo would later be promoted to the ranks of deputy commissioner of police and commissioner of police, respectively.
The BBC documentary added that no action had been taken against Kolo or any of the other policemen after the court ruling.
Kolo as new Police Commissioner of Kano?
In the latest development, the infamous police officer, Kolo, is set to be posted to Kano state command as the new Commissioner of Police, according to the Daily Nigerian.
Kolo, now heading the Special Tactical Command at the force headquarters. This was despite records of human rights violations leveled against him.
In a phone conversation with WikkiTimes, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), said he was not aware of any plan to transfer Kolo to Kano State as the new police commissioner.
Hafsah Muhammed Ibrahim, from Bauchi State, is a literary enthusiast and an advocate for women’s rights. As the Editor and Lead Podcaster at WikkiTimes, she draws on her background in Sociology and Education to create compelling narratives that amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
An avid Scrabble player and tea enthusiast, Hafsah blends her passion for storytelling with a strong commitment to driving social change.
