Reported by: Althiea .P | Edited by: Bornet .k
A grieving mother in Taraba State has demanded justice after her 15-year-old son, Busang Ayuka, died following an alleged assault by operatives of the Taraba State Marshal in Gashaka Local Government Area of the state. The teenager reportedly died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, after sustaining injuries during his detention.
The incident, which has generated public concern across Taraba, reportedly began with a dispute over a missing MP3 player and power bank belonging to one of Busang’s friends in Angwan Alfa, Serti B, Gashaka. According to the teenager’s mother, Mrs Hasena Ayuka, the disagreement later led to her son’s arrest by members of the Taraba Marshal before his condition deteriorated.
Mrs Ayuka said her son was taken into custody after the friend who accused him of taking the items reported the matter to the Taraba Marshal. She alleged that hours after his arrest, she was informed that her son had been taken to a hospital in Gashaka, where she found him in a critical condition.
According to the grieving mother, when she arrived at the hospital, Busang was unable to speak or communicate with her. She questioned explanations given to her by officials that her son’s condition was linked to an ulcer, insisting that the teenager had no history of such an illness.
Mrs Ayuka alleged that she observed serious injuries on her son’s body, including swelling and signs of severe physical trauma. She said the family later moved him to the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo in an attempt to save his life, but doctors were unable to prevent his death.
The teenager reportedly died in the early hours of Friday, July 24, 2026, leaving his family and community members demanding answers over the circumstances surrounding his death. His remains were deposited at the FMC Jalingo morgue after his death.
The mother has appealed to the Taraba State Government, security authorities and relevant agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that anyone found responsible faces the law. She said the family’s main demand was justice and clarity over how her son died.
Responding to the allegations, the Commandant of the Taraba Marshal, CP Agyole Abeh (rtd), expressed concern over the incident and said no personnel of the organisation had the authority to investigate cases in a manner that could result in the death of a suspect.
Abeh said matters involving criminal allegations should be transferred to the appropriate police authorities, particularly the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), and added that officers involved in the incident would be identified and investigated if they were found to have acted improperly.
The death has raised renewed concerns about the activities of state-supported enforcement groups and the need for stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent alleged abuses of power. Human rights advocates have consistently warned that security and enforcement personnel must operate within the boundaries of the law and respect citizens’ fundamental rights, particularly when dealing with minors.
The Taraba Marshal was established as part of efforts by the state government to support security and enforcement operations. However, questions have repeatedly been raised nationally about the accountability structures surrounding non-traditional security outfits and their relationship with conventional law enforcement agencies.
Residents of Gashaka have continued to express sadness over the death of the teenager, with community members describing Busang as a young person whose life was cut short under controversial circumstances.
The case comes amid wider national debates over alleged misconduct by security personnel and the need for justice in cases involving civilians. Civil society groups have often called for transparent investigations whenever allegations of excessive force or unlawful treatment arise.
As pressure mounts for an investigation, authorities in Taraba are expected to provide further clarification on the actions taken by the state and security agencies regarding the incident.
For the Ayuka family, however, the focus remains on accountability and finding answers over the death of their 15-year-old son, whose life ended following what began as a dispute over personal belongings.
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