Police in Kano on Friday said they rescued a 30-year-old Ahmed Aminu who was locked up in his father’s car garage for three years in Farawa area of the state.
They said they found Mr Aminu naked from his waist down after a raid on his family’s residence and he could not walk without support.
Neighbours had alerted a local NGO about his plight, and the police were then called.
“We reached the house around 11:15 pm on Thursday after we got information of what was happening, we rescued Ahmed and also arrested the father,” police spokesperson Abdullahi Haruna told BBC Pidgin.
He added that Aminu’s father Aminu Farawawit would be charged for wrongful confinement, detrainment and cruelty.
Aminu is currently receiving treatment at the Murtala Mohammed hospital.
His father is said to have told the police that he took the action because he suspected his son was into drug abuse.
A human rights group claimed Aminu was detained for seven years.
Director of Human Rights Network in Kano State Haruna Ayagi was part of those who followed the police to rescue the man.
“After some neighbours tipped us off about what was happening, as usual we informed the police who helped us. We went there close to midnight on Thursday,” Mr Ayagi said.
“As we entered the room where he was kept, the smell alone was something else, urine and poo filled everywhere and the sight of Ahmed alone and how lean and weak he was made people cry.”
The rescue comes days after police in Kebbi freed an 11-year-old boy Jubril Aliyu whose stepmother tied him alongside goats for two years.
