News
Family seeks justice after police beat relative to death in custody over N220,000 debt
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)
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.