A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has sentenced Police Sergeant Ruya Auta to death by hanging or lethal injection for the killing of 300-level University of Jos student, Rinji Bala, bringing a five-year quest for justice to a decisive end.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice David Mann, found Sgt. Auta guilty of culpable homicide, declaring that the evidence presented showed a clear and unlawful use of force.
Justice Mann said the ruling was necessary to “uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability,” stressing that security personnel must not violate citizens’ rights without consequence. The verdict followed a thorough review of prosecution evidence, witness testimonies, and the circumstances surrounding the tragic 2020 incident.
Stakeholders across Plateau State have hailed the decision as a critical step in restoring public confidence in the justice system and reinforcing the principle that no one is above the law.
According to details presented in court, Bala was shot dead on May 12, 2020, after he was arrested with two friends near the Hwolshe area of Jos while taking an evening stroll during the COVID-19 lockdown. Despite finding no incriminating evidence on them, officers reportedly beat the young men, released them, and ordered them to run — at which point Sgt. Auta fired the fatal shot into Rinji’s back.
The killing sparked widespread outrage, triggering sustained calls for justice from civil society, students, and human rights groups.
Lead prosecuting counsel Dr. Garba Pwul (SAN), who obtained a fiat from the Plateau State Attorney General to prosecute the case, welcomed the judgment.
He stated, “The judgment was actually expected as the convict didn’t deny the offence. He only claimed it was accidental discharge. The prosecution was able to show that he intended to shoot the victim, as he was shot in the back at the waist.”
Asked whether the convicted officer would appeal, Pwul said the defence had a constitutional right to do so, but no formal indication had been received.
Reacting to the ruling, Mr. Peter Bala, father of the late Rinji, said he felt no joy in another person’s death but maintained that justice was necessary.
“No sane person would celebrate the death of another human. But the truth is the law is the law; that is all I can say,” he said.
He expressed hope that the verdict would deter future abuses by security personnel and serve as a reminder that every citizen’s life must be protected.
