CITIZENS COMPASS – There was outrage in Kwara State as a resident, Jimoh Adetunji Abdulquadri, has reportedly died in the custody of the state police command for failure to refund a loan of N200,000.
Following the death, the deceased’s family has accused the police of torturing their son to death.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday.
The police, however, stated that the 35-year-old Abdulquadri was arrested on allegations of obtaining the said amount under false pretenses.
Spokesperson for the Command, Mrs. Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Abdulquadri’s death.
The deceased’s family, while mourning, refuted the police’s claim regarding the loan amount and accused the officers involved of not presenting evidence to support their allegations.
Videos circulating on social media showed family members expressing their grief and frustration, insisting that Abdulquadri was tortured to death while in custody.
In one of the videos, a woman identified as Aishat Biola, who described herself as the deceased’s sister, recounted the moment her brother was taken away.
The bereaved sister who spoke in Yoruba Language said, “My younger brother is the person that was killed. We were all here cracking jokes when some people came to deceive him away from here, not knowing they were part of those who whisked him away.”
The family also alleged that the police confiscated Abdulquadri’s money at the time of his arrest.
His mother, seen in the video, wept bitterly, accusing the police of “fraudulently” taking all the money her son had before killing him.
While the police acknowledged that Abdulquadri was invited for questioning over the loan dispute, they denied any allegations of torture.
“The circumstances that led to his death are being thoroughly investigated,” Ejire-Adeyemi said, assuring the public of a transparent inquiry.
Despite the assurances, sources revealed that the officers from the Kwara State Investigation Bureau, who were involved in Abdulquadri’s arrest, have been placed under internal investigation.
However, the family insists that justice must be served, calling on both state and federal authorities to intervene.
The incident has sparked public condemnation, with many Nigerians demanding accountability from the police. Friends and community members described Abdulquadri as a peace-loving individual who neither smoked nor drank alcohol.
“This is a clear case of abuse of power. The authorities must act swiftly to ensure justice is served,” a community leader said.
The family has urged human rights organizations and government authorities to probe Abdulquadri’s death and bring those responsible to book.
The Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has visited the bereaved family.
He directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to immediately take over the investigation into the unfortunate death of the deceased for swift dispensation of justice, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The statement read in part: “In a show of commitment to justice and accountability, the IGP visited Kwara State on Sunday, 22nd December 2024, where he met with the bereaved family of the deceased.
