Air Force men beat 60-year-old man to death over prostitute

MAIDUGURI— A sixty-year old man, Ibrahim Bulama, was allegedly beaten to death by Air Force officers in a controversial circumstance at a redlight district in Galadima area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, over a prostitute.



Unconfirmed report claimed the woman, whose identity and whereabouts have become a mystery, was alleged to be a “girlfriend” to the officers. However, briefing journalists, yesterday, in his office, 105 Composite Command, Air Commodore Charles Ohwo said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that, on Wednesday December 7, 2016, an airman, Lance Corporal Kamal Usman left his duty post at about 10 p.m, and on his way home, came across a gathering in Okona Hotel, and in an attempt to find out what was wrong, the people got scared and took to their heels. “When he decided to check the surroundings to find out what scared the people, he entered one room and found a woman laying on a bed. Unfortunately, the deceased old man, Bulama, mobilized some people and came back to the hotel and attacked him with a machete, inflicting serious injuries on his head and snatched his rifle. “On sensing danger, the lance corporal left and mobilized his colleagues for assistance. Upon arrival at the scene, they descended on the old man and beat him to death in the process of recovering the rifle. “The airman is now recuperating at the Air Force medical facility in Maiduguri, while his colleagues, who were involved in the incident, have been detained pending further investigation.” While appealing to the public to be calm, Ohwo, however, said the case would be thoroughly investigated, and whoever was found guilty would be punished accordingly, saying “Nigerian Air Force is a credible organization which does not want its name to be dragged into mud.” But when Vanguard visited Okona Hotel, the manager, who simply gave his name as Mr. Emeka, denied any incident involving the death of a 60-year-old man by Air Force men, saying the incident happened around Simari area of Baga road within Maiduguri metropolis. “My hotel is bubbling without any problem, the place is safe and secured,” Emeka said.