A 24-year-old upcoming artist, Paul Obukohwo, who went to bail his friend from police detention in Asaba, has allegedly died in the custody of the Delta State Police Command.
Reports indicate that Obukohwo succumbed to injuries allegedly inflicted by the police and was pronounced dead on Saturday morning at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, where he was taken for treatment.
At the time of filing this report, his remains are still at the hospital, while the policemen who transported him there reportedly fled upon confirmation of his death.
Arrest and Alleged Assault
Sources claim that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) arrested 19-year-old Prosper Odili, a friend of the deceased, around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday along Redeemed Road in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area.
Despite finding nothing incriminating after searching Odili’s house, the officers reportedly detained him at the State Police Headquarters, Asaba.
Obukohwo, seeking to secure his friend’s release, visited the RRS office around 5:00 p.m. the same day.
However, he was allegedly arrested, handcuffed, and brutally beaten by police operatives before being thrown into a cell, where he collapsed.
Following his deteriorating condition, officers first took him to the police clinic, which referred him to a specialist hospital in Asaba. The specialist hospital, unable to handle the case, referred him to FMC Asaba, where he died.
Police React to Allegations
When contacted for comments, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, dismissed allegations of police brutality, stating that Obukohwo fell ill while in detention.
“He fell sick and was taken to the hospital, diagnosed with low blood sugar. He was referred to Asaba Specialist Hospital and later to FMC before he died,” Edafe said in a WhatsApp message to journalists.
The incident has sparked outrage, with demands for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Obukohwo’s death.
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