A 10-year-old boy simply identified as Muslim has been tortured to death by a soldier for plucking mangoes at Kotoko army barracks close to Hayin Banki community in Kaduna State.

According to Daily Trust, the boy, while trying to pluck mangoes, took to his heels upon sighting the soldier who thereafter traced him into the community and returned him to the barrack.

The soldier was said to have detained and tortured Muslim to death, despite pleas and warnings from his colleagues.

The traditional ruler of Hayin Banki community, Ibrahim Hassan Wuyo, who confirmed the incident noted that the military had handed the suspect over to the police.

“The boy who bears the name Muslim went into the Kotoko Barracks which shares a boundary with Hayin Banki community to pluck mangos from a tree. The soldier queried why the boy came into the barracks and the boy was able to run away.

“The soldier then traced the boy back to the community; he took him back to the barracks and detained him. I was told that while he was torturing the boy, other colleagues warned him to release the boy but he refused,” the traditional ruler narrated.

He noted that the boy died as a result of the torture he suffered, adding that the military officer threw his remains at Unguwan Kanawa community.

Also confirming the incident, the state’s police spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige said an investigation had commenced into the unfortunate incident.