In a tragic incident, rising Nigerian singer Paul Obukowho, aged 24, has reportedly died in police custody in Delta State.
The singer was detained by officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Delta State Police Command in Asaba after visiting the station to inquire about his friend, Prosper Ejiro, who had been arrested days earlier.
According to sources, the singer had arrived at the RRS office to ask about Ejiro’s whereabouts, after his friend was apprehended on Wednesday morning at about 8:00 a.m. along the Redeemed Road off Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Council.
The police reportedly handcuffed Obukowho on both hands and legs, before throwing him into a cell, where he was allegedly subjected to torture.
Witnesses claim that on Thursday night, Obukowho collapsed in the cell and was rushed to the police clinic. However, his condition worsened, and he was transferred to Asaba Specialist Hospital.
Sadly, he was later referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, where he passed away in the early hours of Saturday at around 4:00 a.m.
Family members have condemned the police’s actions, stating that Obukowho and Ejiro were unjustly arrested.
Mr. Godspower Obukowho, the elder brother of the deceased, revealed that the two young men, both laundry workers, were stopped by officers while on their way to work.
Although no incriminating items were found, the police reportedly arrested Ejiro because he was wearing camouflage pants, which they claimed were restricted to security personnel.
Despite a search at his home that found nothing, Ejiro was detained.
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The situation took a darker turn when Obukowho, in an attempt to secure his friend’s release, was also arrested.
According to Godspower, “The Police came to their residence, conducted a search but found nothing incriminating. Despite this, they still went ahead to detain Prosper.
At about 5:00 p.m., the deceased and Ejiro visited the Police station to effect Prosper’s release, but upon their arrival, Obokuwho was also detained for hitting the Police car when they were at their home. From that moment, the deceased was subjected to extreme physical abuse.”
He continued, “Three officers handcuffed him, stomped on him, hit him with wood on his knees, and used pepper spray on him. Prosper, who was forced out of the room, could hear his screams of ‘God help me’ as the officers continued their assault for simply asking for his brother’s release.”
Another family source, who prefers anonymity, claimed, “The officers initially demanded N1 million, splitting it at N500,000 each for Obokuwho and Prosper’s bail. But one of their family friends, Mr. Kelvin, and Prosper’s mother negotiated the bail. Eventually, the officers agreed to accept N50,000 per person, totaling N100,000.”
He further added, “Obokuwho had, by this time, become completely unresponsive. He could no longer speak, stand, or even sit. A concerned junior officer attempted to assist by giving him glucose, but Obokuwho vomited immediately.
Realising the gravity of the situation, the Police urged Prosper to contact his mother to expedite the bail process. While Prosper was making calls, a senior officer confiscated his phone, preventing him from reaching out to the family.”
“As Obokuwho’s condition worsened, officers reluctantly decided to transfer him to the Police Clinic at B Division, thereafter transferred him to Asaba Specialist Hospital, before they finally landed at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, where he tragically passed away.”
The Young Nigerian Rights Organisation (YNRO), led by Victor Ojei (Wong Box), has expressed outrage at the circumstances surrounding Obukowho’s death.
The group has called for a full investigation into the actions of the police officers involved in the arrest, detention, and alleged torture of Obukowho.
They have also demanded the suspension and prosecution of the officers responsible, as well as compensation for the singer’s family.
Ojei said, “We condemn the alleged act of Police brutality, unlawful detention, and gross human rights violations. A full-scale investigation must be conducted into the actions of the RRS officers involved in the unlawful arrest, detention, and torture to death of Paul Obukowho.
“We demand the immediate suspension and prosecution of all officers responsible for the boy’s death, and compensation for the family. This tragic death is yet another grim reminder of the unchecked brutality within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies.”
In response to the incident, Delta State Police Spokesperson SP Bright Edafe claimed that Obukowho was arrested during a police raid on a suspected drug depot in Okpanam. He explained that the singer fell ill in custody and was taken to the police clinic, where his condition worsened.
Edafe asserted, “When he was arrested, he fell sick the following morning. He was immediately taken to the Police Clinic for medication, but they couldn’t manage the situation there. They referred him to Asaba Specialist Hospital (ASH), where it was diagnosed that the boy had low sugar, but the condition was beyond ASH.
From there, he was referred to FMC Asaba, where he was placed on oxygen. The family even knew that the boy had that sickness because they were thanking the officer in charge (OC) of RRS for spending money on him. But now that he has died, they are changing the narrative as if they forget that the autopsy report will certainly reveal the cause of the death.”
This tragic incident has once again brought attention to the ongoing concerns over police brutality and human rights violations within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies. The call for justice grows louder, as many demand accountability and an end to the cycle of abuse that continues to plague the country’s police forces.
