Soldier Mistaken For Bandit And Beaten Half To Death In Kaduna — He Is Alive

A Nigerian soldier named Muhammad Abdulrauf, popularly known as “Didan Tero,” was brutally attacked by a mob in Mai Gero community of Kaduna State after being mistaken for a bandit. The mob beat him severely, and many people including local news platforms reported that he had died. But I have confirmed from a source that he is alive and currently receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

The source said the soldier was on leave from his posting in Maiduguri, Borno State, where he serves with the 21NA intake. The residents allegedly mistook him for a member of a notorious bandit gang because of the way he dressed. According to the source, “the soldier dressed improperly. He wore trousers that looked like the type Boko Haram members wear.” The mob apparently thought he was among the people who recently kidnapped members of the community.

This incident highlights the deep fear and tension in communities terrorised by bandits like the one known as Dogo, who was captured last year. But it also shows the danger of mob justice and mistaken identity. A serving soldier almost lost his life simply because of how he was dressed. How many innocent people have been killed this way in the name of community security? We need to ask ourselves serious questions about how we handle suspicion in this country.