In order to secure the livelihood of his children, 44-year-old Abdulrab Ahmed Dahhan Al-Adani embarked on a journey aboard his own cargo truck, heading from Aden Governorate in southern Yemen to the capital, Sana'a. Abdulrab is the father of five children, three boys and two girls, the oldest of whom is 14 years old. He hails from the Arhab district in Sana'a Governorate and works in land transportation, which is his only source of income.
Abdulrab traveled on Thursday, the second of November 2023, unaware that this would be his last journey. He contacted his family on the same day to inform them that he was on his way home, preparing his belongings and setting off north as usual for work.
Abdulrab covered the distance from Aden (the southernmost point) to Al-Dhale Governorate in the central regions of Yemen. There, he was stopped at a military checkpoint located in the Al-Wadad area, which is under the control of the Southern Transitional Council forces. The military checkpoint personnel attacked him, detained him, and subjected him to brutal physical torture until Abdulrab lost his life on that same day.
Meanwhile, Abdulrab's wife and children were counting the minutes, eagerly awaiting his return from the trip, expecting him to come bearing gifts and necessities. However, there were criminals at a military checkpoint who inflicted as much torture and brutal beating as they could on the dedicated head of the family until they killed him.
As news of Abdulrab's delay reached the grieving family, concern grew among them due to his unusual delay in arrival. The anxious family continued to try contacting him on his sole means of communication, his phone number, in an attempt to ascertain his well-being. However, every time they called, his phone was out of coverage, and they couldn't reach him.
After the grief-stricken family's concern escalated, they received a phone call two days later (Saturday, November 4) from an unknown number, which was later revealed to be the commander of the military checkpoint in the Al-Wadad area of Al-Dhale Governorate. He informed them that Abdulrab had passed away due to a heart attack and that his body was in their possession at the military checkpoint. They expressed their readiness to hand over the body to the nearest military checkpoint for the family to receive. Abdulrab's relatives headed to the nearest military checkpoint, which was under the control of the Southern Transitional Council forces known as the Security Belt, and they were handed Abdulrab's body.
When Abdulrab's relatives uncovered the wrapped cover on the body to identify him, they were shocked to find multiple injuries in various parts of his body, indicating that the story of a heart attack was not the truth of what had happened. It became evident without a doubt that Abdulrab's bruised body had been subjected to repeated torture.
The body was transferred to the forensic doctor for examination, and the forensic report revealed shocking details. Abdulrab had suffered severe external violence using a hard tool or tools of any kind. The forensic report also indicated fractures in the ribcage, lung contusions, heart contusions, bleeding in the chest cavity, liver rupture, compression of the heart, arteries, and major veins in the heart. These signs indicated that the deceased had been subjected to pressure between two solid bodies, one of which had a strong kinetic force, and this was the main cause of death.
Najeeb Al-Adani, the victim's brother, recounts, "We were shocked by the severity of the shock. We did not expect this situation. While we were on the way, those who were transporting my brother's body called us and told us that we should hurry to take the body, or else they would throw it to the hungry dogs in the street. My brother was subjected to brutal beatings, as indicated by the marks and wounds on his body. Furthermore, my brother's cargo truck is still being held by them since about a month ago, and there is procrastination and evasion from the leadership of the military checkpoint in Al-Wadad to hand over the cargo truck to us."
All the evidence indicates that the authorities in the southern Yemeni provinces supported by the UAE are working to downplay the case and conceal those directly responsible for it, as has been the case with previous incidents, most notably the case of Abdulmalik Al-Sanabani. Until now, there has been no investigation into the crime or disclosure of its circumstances by the responsible authorities in Al-Dhale. The military checkpoint claims to have found the body in that condition and denies any involvement in what happened.
Abdulrab's family lost their sole provider while he was traveling on a public road without committing any crime or offense. Whether the crime was motivated by regional animosity and hatred or was a form of banditry and looting, what is certain today is that Abdulrab passed away without returning, leaving behind his widowed wife and five orphaned children without a breadwinner. This is due to the ongoing state of chaos and the absence of accountability mechanisms and justice enforcement. Seeking justice for him and his grieving family is the responsibility of the Transitional Council authorities and the Presidential Council in southern Yemen.