Blood spilled on the streets of Makera, Minna, on Sunday, March 30, when a violent altercation over shoe payment spiraled out of control, leaving a trader with three severed fingers and a serving Nigerian soldier under arrest. The brutal incident, which occurred around 3 p.m., has sparked outrage over rising military-civilian clashes and the abuse of uniformed power.
The victim, 26-year-old Abdulrahman Salisu, was conducting business at his shoe shop when Private Sadiq Sani of the 2 Division Brigade Garrison reportedly walked in to make a purchase. An argument erupted when Salisu insisted on full payment for the shoes, a demand that allegedly infuriated the soldier who, according to police, pulled a concealed cutlass from his trousers and launched a deadly assault.
Salisu narrowly escaped decapitation by shielding his head with his hands—an act that cost him three fingers. He was rushed to Central Police Station with his mutilated hand before being transferred to a medical facility. Photos circulating locally show the trader’s hand wrapped in blood-soaked gauze, prompting calls for military accountability.
Superintendent Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the attack and revealed that the suspect initially fled the scene. Acting on intelligence, officers traced Private Sani to his residence in Makera, arrested him, and transferred him to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). He was later handed over to the Military Police for further disciplinary procedures.
The Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report, but human rights advocates have condemned the silence, calling for a transparent probe. Legal experts warn that unless the soldier is prosecuted in a civilian court, justice may elude the victim, a sentiment echoed by traders in Makera who have threatened a peaceful protest.
Military-civilian tension in Niger State has been rising, with past incidents of extrajudicial abuse by uniformed personnel still unresolved. Local observers are urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to mandate stricter disciplinary codes and public accountability for errant servicemen, especially as citizens grow weary of unchecked brutality.
As Salisu recovers from his injuries, community members and rights groups are rallying support to ensure he receives justice. The Nigeria Bar Association’s Minna chapter has also pledged to provide legal assistance, warning that “uniforms must never become a license to maim.”
