A Plateau State High Court has sentenced a police officer, Sergeant Ruya Auta, for the killing of a 300-level student of the University of Jos, Rinji Bala. The judgment was delivered by the Chief Justice of Plateau State, Justice David Mann, at High Court 1 in Jos on Tuesday.
According to a report by Leadership News on Wednesday 10 December, 2025, the court found the officer guilty of culpable homicide after reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution and listening to witnesses. Justice Mann ruled that the actions of the officer were unlawful and stressed that the sentence was meant to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability, especially in cases involving misuse of firearms.
The incident happened on May 12, 2020, when Rinji and two friends were stopped by security personnel in the Hwolshe area of Jos during the COVID-19 lockdown. They were searched and taken into custody even though nothing illegal was found on them. Reports say the students were later released and told to leave, after which Rinji was shot and later died.
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The prosecuting counsel, Dr Garba Pwul (SAN), said the verdict was in line with the evidence, noting that the officer claimed it was an accidental shot but the prosecution proved otherwise. He said the court’s decision showed that justice had been done.
Rinji’s father, Mr Peter Bala, said he was not happy about anyone losing their life but accepted that the law had taken its course. He added that he hoped the judgment would discourage security personnel from acting carelessly.
The family expressed hope that the ruling will prevent similar incidents and promote responsible conduct among security officers.
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