A heartbreaking story making the rounds has sparked outrage after a man who was reportedly arrested at the age of 13 was said to have spent 47 years in prison over an incident involving a broken headlight in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to the account, the boy was selling sugarcane for his father and pushing a wheelbarrow under the scorching sun when he reportedly moved toward a tree to seek shade. In the process, his wheelbarrow allegedly brushed against a parked vehicle, causing one of its headlights to break.
Rather than flee, the boy reportedly stayed at the scene and waited for the vehicle’s owner, who was said to have been praying at a nearby mosque.
When the owner returned and discovered the damage, he allegedly contacted the police and had the boy arrested.
The account further claims that the boy remained in prison for 47 years, being transferred between different correctional facilities across Nigeria during his incarceration.
He was reportedly released at the age of 60 after a state governor granted him a pardon.
The story has triggered emotional reactions, with many questioning how a child could allegedly lose nearly five decades of his life over an incident involving property damage.
The account also claims that the police officer involved eventually became a traditional ruler.
However, details of the case, including the identity of the man, the officer and the exact legal proceedings that led to the prolonged imprisonment, could not be independently verified from the information provided.
If confirmed, the case would raise serious questions about Nigeria’s justice system, the treatment of children in conflict with the law and the devastating consequences of prolonged incarceration