The tragic death of Terhile Timothy Achinya, a student of Mechanical Engineering at the Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia, has sparked outrage and sorrow among students, staff, and the local community.
The 20-year-old student allegedly died after being tortured by unidentified military personnel who had accused him of involvement in cult activities.
The disturbing incident has left many demanding justice for Achinya and his family, while the school administration has called for peace amid the escalating tensions.
The story of Achinya’s death has raised numerous questions about the role of military intervention in civil matters, particularly within educational institutions.
The tragic events unfolded after a fellow student, Samuel Ejembi, allegedly informed military officers about a group of students suspected of participating in cultism.
According to the President of the Student Union Government (SUG) of Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Comrade Jacob John Mutuwa, Ejembi’s tip led to a raid by soldiers at Eji World, an entertainment center located near the polytechnic campus.
“Soldiers came and rounded up some students based on Samuel’s information. Both the informant and the accused students were taken into custody for questioning,” Comrade Mutuwa stated. Unfortunately, Achinya was among those picked up by the military for interrogation.
Details of what transpired during the interrogation are still unclear, but reports indicate that Achinya was subjected to severe torture while in military custody.
Eyewitnesses and close friends allege that the soldiers used extreme methods to extract information from the detained students, which eventually led to Achinya’s untimely death.
His lifeless body was later deposited at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, adding to the growing calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.
In the aftermath of this incident, Dr. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata, the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, addressed the situation with a plea for calm among the student body and the general public.
“We understand the grief and anger felt by the students and the community, but we urge everyone to remain calm and allow the proper authorities to handle the case,” he said in a public statement. He also promised to work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is served.
