Police investigates death of suspect in custody following alleged torture
A 31-year-old male suspect, identified as Erasmus Emhenya, has died in police custody due to alleged severe and unjustified torture by officers of the Nigerian Police Force.
However, FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the death but denied any torture as alleged by the family.
In response to calls for a thorough investigation into Erasmus’ death by Osaro-Oniawu Jnr, national coordinator of Conflict Solution Advocacy on behalf of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Edo, SP Adeh stated that the acting commissioner of police, FCT, DCP Ahmed Musa, has ordered discreet investigations into the remote and immediate cause of the deceased suspect’s death.
Erasmus was being held in custody as one of the principal suspects in a case of murder being investigated by the FCT command. He and one Benjamin Agbasi were arrested for their involvement in the stabbing and killing of 25-year-old Blessing Ogbu ‘Female’ in front of Number One Hotel, Nyanya, Abuja.
“Preliminary investigations by the command have revealed that the suspect was not tortured to death by the police,” said SP Adeh.
“Meanwhile, an autopsy to determine the remote cause of his death has since commenced, and the report of the medical examiner is being awaited.”
The command leadership called for calm, stating categorically that the suspect was not tortured while in police custody.
DCP Ahmed Musa assured the public that the investigation process would be transparent and the report would be made public in due course.
The incident came to light when the mother of the deceased cried out in one of the media stations in the country, according to Onaiwu.
