One year after the #EndBadGovernance protest in Maiduguri, the case of 25-year-old Muhammed Liman has become emblematic of the alleged human rights abuses and lack of accountability in Borno State.
Liman was at A.A. Kime Filling Station, Bolori Junction, on August 1, 2024, when the convoy of a state commissioner passed by. Eyewitnesses allege that one of the commissioner’s security escorts threw a grenade toward a group of young people at the location. The explosion killed Liman’s friends instantly, while he sustained a severe spinal cord injury that has left him permanently bedridden.
Instead of receiving prompt and effective medical care, Liman’s situation worsened when his medical file at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital reportedly went missing. Family members claim the file was taken away by police officers, and the hospital has since failed to account for it. Without the file, doctors have been unable to continue his treatment, leaving him dependent on his mother for round-the-clock care.
“This is not just negligence; it is a denial of his right to life and health,” a relative told reporters. “We have been left alone to carry this burden while those responsible for his condition walk free.”
Human rights advocates say Liman’s ordeal highlights a disturbing pattern of state-linked violence and intimidation during peaceful demonstrations in Nigeria’s northeast. The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began in August 2024, were largely youth-driven, demanding accountability, transparency, and improved governance. In Borno State, however, several incidents of heavy-handed response by security operatives were reported, though few have been officially investigated.
Legal analysts note that Liman’s case raises questions about due process, access to justice, and the right to medical treatment. The alleged theft of his medical records further compounds suspicions of deliberate attempts to frustrate any future accountability.
Civil society organisations are urging both state and federal authorities to investigate the incident and ensure justice for Liman and his late friends. They also demand accountability from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for the missing medical file, which they describe as “a violation of medical ethics and a breach of patient rights.”
Meanwhile, Liman’s mother continues to care for him at home, a role she never imagined would become her life’s full responsibility. “Every day is a struggle,” she said softly, her voice breaking. “My son deserves justice. He deserves to be treated, not abandoned.”
The case has reignited debates about the conduct of security agencies in Borno State and the broader issues of governance, accountability, and protection of fundamental rights in Nigeria. As Liman lies confined to his bed, his story has become a symbol of resilience — but also of the high cost ordinary citizens pay when state power is unchecked.
Rights groups maintain that until justice is served, cases like Liman’s will continue to erode public trust in institutions meant to protect, rather than harm, citizens.
