The Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, has ordered the rearrest of one Hauwa Abdullahi and her son for allegedly assaulting a housewife, Fatima Usman, with sticks and iron rods in Maiduguri.
The order followed public outcry over the release of the suspects after their initial detention.
According to security analyst, Zagazola Makama, the incident happened at old GRA on Thursday evening, August 14, 2025.
Laying on a hospital bed, her body marked with bruises, her face swollen, her voice weak, Fatima recounted how the suspects, who are her next-door neighbours allegedly beat her with sticks and iron rods until she passed out, after a confrontation between them about their children.
It was gathered that mother and son were accompanied by two other accomplices,
“I only tried to escort my frightened child But Hauwa and her boys descended on me with sticks and iron rods until I became unconscious.”
It was not the first time Fatima’s family had crossed paths with Hauwa. Fatima claimed that earlier that same evening, Hauwa’s children had beaten her children when they went to fetch water.
When Fatima’s husband, Miki Muhammed, intervened, he thought the matter was over. Hours later, his wife was in hospital fighting for her life.
“I called my husband, who went to intervene and cautioned them to stop. Later, as I tried to escort my frightened child, Hauwa, in the company of three grown-up boys, including her son, an almajiri and another boy from the neighbourhood, descended on me with sticks and iron rods until I became unconscious,” Fatima recounted.
She was rushed to Horoma Clinic in New GRA, where doctors battled to resuscitate her.
Her husband, Miki Muhammed, who filed a complaint at the GRA Police Station, confirmed that Hauwa was briefly arrested but released a day after without consequence.
“This is not Hauwa’s first offence. She has a long history of violence. She once attacked a neighbour’s wife in the same compound, breaking her wrist. She already has a case in court over assault and another petition pending before the National Human Rights Commission. Yet, police set her free again,” Miki lamented.
“Despite this record, police at the GRA station in Maiduguri released her without charge, without condition, and without explanation. The police told us to go, saying they will look for us. Is this how justice works? Must someone die before action is taken?” he fumed. “This is how justice works in Borno?” Miki asked bitterly.
“The police told us to go, saying they will look for us. My wife was nearly killed, and yet the woman was freed to come home the next day, threatening to attack again.”
Sources told Zagazola Makama on Saturday that Fatima was also invited by the police for continuation of her case.
The sources explained that Hauwa was earlier detained for several hours but was released on health grounds after she reportedly sustained a broken arm during a separate fight with another neighbour.
They added that Fatima did not personally report the case to the police, but the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of GRA Division acted after receiving pictures and video evidence of the brutal attack.
“Fatima was later invited to formally lodge a complaint. The suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations,” one of the sources said.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Borno confirmed that the matter had also been reported to it.
Mrs. Jummai Mshelia, Coordinator of the Commission in the state, said the NHRC was already working with the police to ensure that justice was served.
