In July 2024, the life of Adamu Muhammad, a 20-year old resident of Sambo Daji village in Pindiga, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State changed forever. He lost both arms after his paternal uncle, Yahaya Malam Buba, tied him to a tree.
Buba had suspected Adamu of stealing his son’s phone and insisted the punishment could force a confession out of him. For two and half hours, Adamu’s hands and legs were tied behind a tree. As he stood restrained in pain, the prolonged punishment had seized blood circulation to Adamu’s arms, leading to severe damage that later necessitated amputation to save his life.
Five months after the tragic incident, Weekend Trust visited Adamu in Sambo Daji village to learn how he is coping with his current situation. The 20-year-old revealed that his life had changed entirely as he is now dependent on family and friends to feed and clean him.
“My life has become unbearable because I cannot do anything for myself,” he said in anguish. “Not even to take a bath or clean after myself.” He said his stepmother does everything for him. “This pains me deeply because, at my age, I shouldn’t depend on someone like that. If I had grown up with this disability, I might have adapted, but now, I can’t do anything for myself,” he said in despair.
Though he says his stepmother has become a strong pillar for which he has leaned on since the tragedy, he described his dependence on her for his personal grooming as awkward and embarrassing. “The most painful thing is that when I have certain needs, my stepmom has to assist me. This deeply troubles me because she is a woman, and I am a man,” he said.
Despite the widely held belief that stepmothers have evil tendencies towards their step children, Malama Azumi Muhammad, Adamu’s stepmother is challenging that notion. She has not only continued to care for Adamu in all aspects of his life, but has shown unwavering dedication and compassion while doing so.
She described Adamu to Weekend Trust as her son, saying: “He is like my biological son, I don’t see Adamu as someone different. I regard him as my own son. He is my husband’s child, and I believe no child deserves to be mistreated in life.”
She explained further that she has taken it upon herself to look after him “until Allah provides a solution to his condition.” According to Malama Azumi, Adamu’s current predicament is a trial from Allah which she said no one is immune to.
Our correspondent gathered that Malama Azumi is responsible for feeding Adamu, bathing and cleaning him up, as well as providing every type of care required for his daily life. He confirmed that she has never shown any sign of weariness or mistreatment towards him. His sister, 25-year-old Aisha Muhammad, who is married and lives in the same village said their stepmother, Malama Azumi has always shown immense love and care for them.
“Even before this unfortunate incident, we enjoyed living with her as a stepmother. She has never shown any form of discrimination. She cares for Adamu as if he were her own son, even beyond what one could expect,” Aisha said.
In July when Adamu was tied to a tree by his uncle, Weekend Trust gathered that the phone the 20-year-old was accused of stealing was eventually found on another person. However, due to the injury he sustained, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), had arrested Yahaya Malam Buba, Adamu’s uncle. This reporter gathered that Buba is currently in detention, awaiting trial for alleged human rights violations.
But Adamu hopes for quick justice. He says he does not support prolonged legal proceedings against his uncle. Instead, he wants his uncle to take responsibility for providing him with prosthetic arms. “He might eventually be released from prison, but I’m left with permanent damage,” Adamu explained, adding that: “My parents are not well-off. Sometimes, I don’t even get what to eat. I am always sitting at home, and when food is available, someone has to feed me.”
Tired of his depressing situation, Adamu, according to his relations, often leaves home for a nearby village to live among friends and beg for financial aid on the streets. He expressed interest in furthering his education to help him lead a productive life but says he now lives in a world where he constantly has to think of ways to find solutions to his current predicament. “When I’m with my friends, they have to do everything for me, which makes me feel terrible,” he said. He appealed to the government and public to provide him with prosthetic arms to enable him perform daily tasks.
One of Adamu’s friends, who simply identified himself as Musa, said they do not discriminate against him as they understand that his condition was not self-inflicted, rather a matter of destiny. Musa, who sometimes camps Adamu when he leaves home said: “We don’t shun him, and whenever he needs anything, we help him.” He described Adamu’s situation as a valuable life lesson to everyone.
An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) handling Adamu’s case, DSC Ibrahim Habibu told this reporter that Adamu’s uncle was in detention, and added that the NSCDC had partnered with a non-governmental organisation and the local community to help secure prosthetic arms for Adamu.
He also mentioned that he had taken steps to prevent Adamu from street begging by seeking assistance from an elder in their village. Currently, Adamu remains hopeful that support from the government and the public will help him rebuild his life.
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