A 300 level
student of Economics at the Kaduna State University, Femi Bello, has
been reportedly killed by the Police in Nassarawa State while in
detention.
The deceased had just finished his second semester examinations, hoping to move to final year, before he was killed. He reportedly told friends that he wanted to graduate and take care of his mother who became a widow four months ago.
A lawyer, Mr Nanpon Wuyep of Sterling Law Centre, who is battling to get justice for the family of the deceased, said Bello was arrested when he went to visit a friend. According to him, he did not know the reason for his arrest. He was taken to the police station.
By the time his mother and younger brother got information of his arrest and rushed down to the police station, the divisional police officer in charge of the station told them, “Him don die” (he has died).
Wuyep said that the DPO told him and the family that Bello allegedly confessed to owning a gun kept somewhere in Bwari and that while they were taking him in the police van in handcuffs, somewhere around Sharp Corner in Mararaba, he jumped out of the moving van.
According to the lawyer, the police said they rushed Bello to the Medical Centre in Mararaba but medical personnel were on strike. They added that they took him to a private hospital, where he was confirmed dead. According to Wuyep, Bello went to UTC shopping complex to deliver T-Shirts and decided to visit a friend at Mararaba.
He was sitting outside the friend’s house around 4 pm when a Golf Volkswagen car suddenly parked in front of him. “About eight men stepped out of the car and arrested Bello, his host and other friends numbering about seven. They were handcuffed and taken to the Mararaba Police Station,” Wuyep said.
The lawyer added that after waiting for Bello the whole day, his mother and siblings started making efforts to reach him. His phone, however, remained switched off. On December, 7, the mother got wind of his arrest and detention. “His younger brother, Biodun, went to the police station. The police officers confirmed his arrest, but advised him to come back the next morning before 10 am.
They told him that Femi’s case was being transferred to the State CID at Lafia, Nasarawa State. Biodun wanted to see his brother, but this request was turned down. Biodun saw shoes and other personal effects he knew belonged to Femi,” the lawyer said. Wuyep said he was contacted and the next morning, he went with Biodun to the station.
He wanted to find out Bello’s offence and secure his bail. He said: “I asked to see Femi. I was told that he was not in the cell. I was referred to the Divisional Crime Office (DCO), where I met one Adamu. The man directed me to see the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP John Omege.
The DPO told me in vernacular, ‘him don die.’ Biodun, unable to bear the news broke down in tears.” A text message was sent to the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, on the case, but at press time, he was yet to reply
The deceased had just finished his second semester examinations, hoping to move to final year, before he was killed. He reportedly told friends that he wanted to graduate and take care of his mother who became a widow four months ago.
A lawyer, Mr Nanpon Wuyep of Sterling Law Centre, who is battling to get justice for the family of the deceased, said Bello was arrested when he went to visit a friend. According to him, he did not know the reason for his arrest. He was taken to the police station.
By the time his mother and younger brother got information of his arrest and rushed down to the police station, the divisional police officer in charge of the station told them, “Him don die” (he has died).
Wuyep said that the DPO told him and the family that Bello allegedly confessed to owning a gun kept somewhere in Bwari and that while they were taking him in the police van in handcuffs, somewhere around Sharp Corner in Mararaba, he jumped out of the moving van.
According to the lawyer, the police said they rushed Bello to the Medical Centre in Mararaba but medical personnel were on strike. They added that they took him to a private hospital, where he was confirmed dead. According to Wuyep, Bello went to UTC shopping complex to deliver T-Shirts and decided to visit a friend at Mararaba.
He was sitting outside the friend’s house around 4 pm when a Golf Volkswagen car suddenly parked in front of him. “About eight men stepped out of the car and arrested Bello, his host and other friends numbering about seven. They were handcuffed and taken to the Mararaba Police Station,” Wuyep said.
The lawyer added that after waiting for Bello the whole day, his mother and siblings started making efforts to reach him. His phone, however, remained switched off. On December, 7, the mother got wind of his arrest and detention. “His younger brother, Biodun, went to the police station. The police officers confirmed his arrest, but advised him to come back the next morning before 10 am.
They told him that Femi’s case was being transferred to the State CID at Lafia, Nasarawa State. Biodun wanted to see his brother, but this request was turned down. Biodun saw shoes and other personal effects he knew belonged to Femi,” the lawyer said. Wuyep said he was contacted and the next morning, he went with Biodun to the station.
He wanted to find out Bello’s offence and secure his bail. He said: “I asked to see Femi. I was told that he was not in the cell. I was referred to the Divisional Crime Office (DCO), where I met one Adamu. The man directed me to see the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP John Omege.
The DPO told me in vernacular, ‘him don die.’ Biodun, unable to bear the news broke down in tears.” A text message was sent to the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, on the case, but at press time, he was yet to reply
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