Suspect Dies In Kwara Police Custody
A 35-year-old man named Jimoh Abdulquadri has died in police custody in Kwara State.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement over the weekend, saying it has initiated a discreet investigation into the unexpected incident.
Naija News understands that the suspect, a resident of the Balogun Fulani community in Erubu/Asunnara, Ilorin, Kwara State, died in police custody during the early hours of Friday.
Reports indicate that he was arrested by police officers on December 19, 2024, for allegedly owing an individual named Peter a sum of ₦220,000, and he reportedly died the following day, December 20, 2024.
Family members of Abdulquadri, also known as Van de Sar, including his mother, Mrs Adijat Moriyike, and his elder brother, Ismail, have alleged that he was subjected to torture leading to his death.
According to The PUNCH, the family are urging relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death and to hold those responsible accountable for justice.
The family has accused police personnel at the state police command headquarters of physically assaulting Jimoh, claiming that he sustained a head injury from a hard object, with blood reportedly flowing from his nose.
According to the elder brother of the deceased, efforts were already underway to resolve the ₦220,000 debt prior to the tragic incident.
“My brother was said to be owing someone a sum of ₦220,000, and measures were being taken to settle the debt. He was arrested with his phone and ₦350,000 at about 5:30 pm, and at 7:30 pm, he died on December 20.
“We were called a few hours after midnight of December 20 to come and bail him, when police said they don’t know what’s happening to my brother and that he’s been taken to the hospital. By the time we got to the headquarters early in the morning, we were told to meet them at General Hospital, Surulere, Ilorin.
“There, we saw at the mortuary that he was beaten to death with blood all over him. They said he hanged himself with a cloth he was wearing inside the cell. My brother is a tall person who couldn’t have killed himself inside the police cell that they have.
“The person my late brother was owing money is an elder brother to a policeman. The person instructed his younger brother to torture my brother. When we got to the mortuary, we saw that his face was swollen, blood oozed from his nose and bruises all over his body,” the brother narrated.
The family also accused police of planning to cover up, calling on authorities concerned to intervene.
Reacting, however, on Sunday, the Kwara state police command, through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Toun Ejire-Adeyemi DSP, said: “The Kwara State Police Command is aware of an unfortunate incident that led to the tragic loss of one Mr. Jimoh Abdulquadri, which occurred on December 20, 2024.
“The deceased was invited on an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence to the sum of ₦220,000.
“Discreet investigations into this incident have commenced to ascertain the cause. Further developments on the outcome will be communicated as it progresses, as no stone will be left unturned,” she said.
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