Freed after five years in jail, Nigerian man searches for missing mother

Rasheed Wasiu describes his life in prison as "hell"

Freed after five years in detention without trial, a Nigerian man is now searching for his missing mother after what he describes as years of legal limbo and personal loss linked to his arrest during the 2020 #EndSARS protests in Lagos.

Rasheed Wasiu, who was 17 at the time, says he was detained while returning from work during the protests that swept through parts of the city over police brutality. Although he denies any involvement in violence, he was later charged with unlawful possession of firearms, a charge he maintains he knew nothing about.

He says he spent more than five years in custody at Lagos’s Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where his case repeatedly stalled and was not properly heard in court. His eventual release came after a court struck out the case for lack of evidence, following legal intervention by a rights advocacy group.

Now free, Wasiu says his return home has brought fresh anguish: he has been unable to locate his mother, who reportedly left the area amid fears and pressure following his arrest. Neighbours say she moved away and has rarely been seen since.

Human rights groups say his case reflects wider concerns about prolonged pre-trial detention in Nigeria, where tens of thousands of inmates are still awaiting trial.

Wasiu says he is focusing first on finding his mother and rebuilding his life.

Source: BBC News (BBC Pidgin), “He wasn't guilty but delays left this man jailed for five years without trial.”