Relatives of one Jimoh Abdulquadri of Balogun Fulani community at Erubu/Asunnara in Ilorin, who allegedly died in Kwara police custody, are contending he was killed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased was arrested by police operatives on Thursday for allegedly owing someone, identified as Peter, a sum of N220,000.
However Abdulquadri, who was fondly called Van de Sar, reportedly died on Friday.
Now, some of his relations, namely his mother Mrs. Adijat Moriyike and elder brother Ismail, said he was killed, claiming the deceased was tortured to death.
Ismail called on concerned authorities to investigate the matter and arrest culprits in order to get justice.
The relations accused operatives at the Police Headquarters in Ilorin of beating and breaking the head of Abdulquadri with hard object, with his nose allegedly oozing blood.
Ismail said measures were already being taken to settle the N220,000 debt before the incident.
“My brother was said to be owing someone a sum of N220,000 and measures were being taken to settle the debt.
“He was arrested with his phone and N350,000 at about 5:30 p.m. and by 7:30 p.m. he had died on Friday.
“We were called a few hours after midnight of Friday/Saturday to come and bail him, when police said they didn’t know what was happening to my brother and that he had been taken to hospital.
“By the time we got to the headquarters early in the morning, we were told to meet them at General Hospital at Surulere in Ilorin.
“There, we saw at the mortuary that he was beaten to death with blood all over him.
“They said he hanged himself with the cloth he was wearing inside the cell. My brother is a tall person that 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 had instructed his younger brother to torture my brother. When we got to the mortuary, we saw that his face was swollen, blood was coming from his nose and bruises were all over his body,” he claimed.
Abdulquadri’s family members also accused the police of planning to cover up the matter, calling on the authorities concerned to intervene.
In its reaction, the Police Command in Kwara, through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP. Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the development.
“The Police Command in Kwara is aware of an unfortunate incident that led to the tragic loss of one Mr. Jimoh Abdulquadri which occurred on Friday.
“The deceased was invited over an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence to the sum of N220,000.
“Discreet investigations into this incident have commenced to ascertain the cause.
“Further developments on the outcome will be communicated as soon as it progresses, as no stone will be left unturned,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.(NAN)