A Nigerian man has moved online audiences after revealing the distressing case of a 13‑year‑old boy who reportedly spent almost half a century behind bars for unintentionally damaging a parked vehicle in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He explained that the teenager was pushing a wheelbarrow filled with sugarcane for his father when he stepped under a tree to escape the intense heat. While maneuvering the cart, he allegedly brushed against a stationary car, causing one of its headlamps to detach.
Unable to locate the vehicle’s owner, the boy chose to remain at the scene, guided by his conscience. The car’s proprietor, who was said to have been praying at a nearby mosque, later returned, summoned police and allegedly had the youth detained.
Nearly Five Decades Behind Bars Sparks Online Outrage
The narrator recalled, “Recently this 13‑year‑old boy was released after serving 47 years in prison, reaching the age of 60.”
He added, “Throughout those years he was transferred between various correctional facilities across Nigeria.”
According to the account, the young man regained his freedom after receiving a pardon from a state governor.
Reaction Floods Social Media
The tale ignited a firestorm on social platforms, with many expressing shock and demanding a closer look at the justice system, while others questioned the story’s validity due to the lack of official records or independent verification.
The storyteller closed his post with the poignant remark, “May Nigeria never happen to you,” a line that has struck a chord with readers as conversations about accountability and fairness continue.
See the accompanying screenshot below.
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