Nasarawa Varsity Killings: Family Of Deceased Seeks Justice

The killing of two students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) by military men while protesting shortage of water and electricity has continued to generate intense public discourse. What remains mind boggling however, is the denial by the military hierarchy of the 177 Guards Brigade, Keffi as well as the University authority of any Involvement in the killings. DONATUS NADI spoke with the family of late Aminu Osuko in Lafia who are crying for justice

Whatever their intention was, whoever sent them, the public is waiting for the final outcome of the case; whether it will get swept under the carpet or the course of justice will be served eventually. The family of late Aminu Osuko is placing their hope in God as they recount their experiences these past weeks.

Usman Osuko,  the deceased’s elder brother said even the loss of their parents was not as painful as Aminu’s  death, because the family was looking up to him to fill in the vacuum they left behind. He narrated that his brother has never been known to be a trouble maker and was always leading prayers at the local mosque, which was why his other brothers and sisters taxed themselves to sponsor him in school. Of the 18 children in the family, he was on the verge of becoming the second graduate, only to be killed by a bullet.

On the expectation of the family from government, Osuko said “As Muslims, we believe that anything that happens has already been ordained by God. All we can do is call on the government to make sure that the perpetrators of this ungodly act are brought to justice.”  He, however, expressed worry that everyone is claiming not to have a hand in the killings, saying that the deputy governor, Dameshi Barau Luka, who visited the family, denied state government’s involvement and the same goes for the university authority and the military.

Aminu’s elder sister,  Zainab Usman, who spoke amid tears to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND said “we have no parents and we were all looking up to him as the leading light of the family” adding, “whoever committed this act, we leave him with his conscience to judge him.”

Given the poor state of the family and dashed hopes on the prospects leaning on the shoulders of their late brother, Usman  pleaded with Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura to find it in his heart to offer a family member of theirs scholarship so that one day he would wipe their tears away.

Adamu Idris, a childhood friend of the deceased, who told Leadership WEEKEND that three members of late Aminu’s  family fainted on hearing the news, said he was a reference point among his peers and always made public his desire to be of assistance to his family members, especially his sisters, for sacrificing the little they had to see him through school.



-- Leadership