Adullahi Bello, a 23-year-old Fulani herdsman, was on Wednesday beaten unconscious after being caught attempting to escape from Kuje Prisons, where he has been remanded. Mr. Bello, a married father of one, was said to have become traumatized by his stay in prison after seeing inmates who have been detained for as many as 12 years because of delays in their trials.

A source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Bello has also been a victim of long adjournments following his arrest and that of two others for abduction. At his last court appearance, Justice Binta Nyarko of the Federal High Court, Abuja, adjourned his case from November 5 to March 1, 2018.

The source added that Mr. Bello became depressed following a visit by his wife and infant daughter. He was said to have told the wife that he could no longer bear her seeing him in prison custody. The experience led him to start making plans for escape, which he commenced on December 20.

Mr. Bello, disclosed another prison source, went to the prison mosque for prayers. After the prayers ended, he hid himself until he was locked in the mosque. He later crept out of the mosque and went over the hole-ridden wall, but was spotted, chased and arrested. He was subsequently beaten unconscious.

“His situation is unknown. There are speculations that he may have died because of the savage beating he received,” said a source.