Keke Rider And A Father Of Two Tortured To Death By Police In Enugu

The family of Kingsley Agwuna has demanded a comprehensive investigation and prosecution of some policemen attached to the Unity police station, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu State over the death of their son.

They also urged the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the case, claiming Kingsley died under mysterious circumstances.

The family accused the police of brutality, torture, wrongful arrest, and other human rights violations.

The deceased was said to have been arrested on 5th of September 2024 at a popular bar located at Nkwo Nike by the policemen led by one DSP Christian Uche Okeke.

According to the family, he was illegally arrested and was not given a chance to defend himself from the allegation.

While narrating how Kingsley was allegedly killed in a petition to the human rights commission, a brother of the deceased, Ernest C. Agwuna said, “I, Mr Ernest C. Agwuna, a citizen of Nigeria residing at 3 Monastery Road, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu East LGA, Enugu State, hereby write this petition with great pain and distress to bring to your esteemed office’s attention the extreme acts of police brutality, torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment that culminated in the gruesome murder of my beloved brother, Mr Kingsley Agwuna.

“The officers involved were D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi, who were attached to Unity Police Station, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu State.

“Details of the Incident: On the 5th of September 2024, Mr Kingsley Agwuna was arrested at a popular bar located at Nkwo Nike when police officers, led by D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke, arrived to arrest some produce revenue collectors who have their posts situated around Nkwo Nike. However, they decided to embark on a random arrest. In the process, Mr Kingsley Agwuna, a tricycle driver (Keke driver) and not a member of the produce revenue collectors, was wrongfully arrested and taken to the police station that same night.

“The following morning, on the 6th of September 2024, he was charged and arraigned in court, where he was granted bail. Unfortunately, none of his family members had been contacted before he was charged, so none were present to post bail. Consequently, the court ordered that he be remanded in prison pending his family’s arrangement for his bail.

“Upon arrival at the prison, the warders observed bruises all over his body, which left him unable to stand independently. Due to his condition, the prison warders refused to accept him from the police officers and alerted the Officer in Charge, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire. Under his instruction, the police officers, D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi, were asked to write and sign an indemnity on the back of the charge sheet, stating the condition in which they brought him, which they did as requested.

“To our greatest shock, a friend of Mr Kingsley Agwuna, Mr Nwackukwu, was contacted on Monday, the 9th of September 2024, through a phone call informing him that Mr Kingsley Agwuna had passed away. This was later confirmed by Mr Nwackukwu on the 10th of September 2024. After that, Mr Nwachukwu inquired about the police station and the Investigating Police Officer (I.P.O) in charge of the case.

“The Officer in Charge of the prison told Mr Nwachukwu that Unity Police Division at Ibagwa Nike handled the case and that the (I.P.O) in-charge was Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi. The phone number of Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi was then handed over to Mr Nwachukwu for more Inquiries Since he is the Investigating Police Officer (I.P.O) of the Case.

“When Mr Nwachukwu contacted Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi to verify the information, Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi vehemently denied any knowledge of the case, claiming he was only instructed to take Mr Kingsley Agwuna to prison after the arraignment in court. However, it was later discovered that Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi not only works at Unity Police Division, but was also the Investigating Police Officer (I.P.O) in charge of the case.

“I Mr Ernest Agwuna was later contacted on phone on the 10th Sept.2024, So I have to Start Coming down to Enugu to find out what really happened to my Brother Mr Kingsley Agwuna, upon arrival I went Straight to Unity Police Station where I met with the D.C.O, in person of D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke whom I tried all my best to get some Vital Information about what transpired between him and my Brother, Mr Kingsley Agwuna but he also denied Vehemently that he knew nothing about the incident.

“So I went from there to the Prison Yard where I met with the Officer in-charge in person of Compt. Sunday Oyakhire who told me that he only can tell me what happened from the time when Mr Kingsley Agwuna was Brought to the Prison. And he narrated the same as what he told Mr Nwachukwu which I have written above but at this point in time, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire told me that When he stepped down from his office to the Prison Entrance Gate he met my Brother Mr Kingsley Agwuna where he way layed on the floor at the same Prison Entrance and he, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire personally asked Mr Kingsley Agwuna what happened to Him.

“Mr Kingsley Agwuna told him that the police used a 2-by-2 Wood log to beat him while hitting him on his lungs and that it was even hard before he was able to mutter those words because he was seriously wonded. He, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire also mentioned to me that My Brother Mr Kinsley Agwuna was with a plaster at the back of his head where he has a sharp deep cut.

“Human Rights Violations: The conduct of the officers involved constitutes clear violations of Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees every individual the right to respect for their dignity and freedom from torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

“The Anti-Torture Act of 2017, which prohibits all forms of torture and inhumane treatment.

“International conventions such as the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT), which Nigeria has ratified.

“Demands: In light of these egregious violations and the irreparable harm caused to my family, I respectfully demand the following actions from the National Human Rights Commission:

“An immediate and Thorough Investigation: I request an independent and transparent investigation into the conduct of the police officers involved in the arrest, torture, and murder of my brother, Mr Kingsley Agwuna.

“Prosecution of the Officers Involved: The officers responsible for these heinous acts must be brought to justice through appropriate legal action.”

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command denied the allegation of tortur­ing Kingsley to death.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe insisted that the deceased did not die in police custody nor was he arrested by officers from the mentioned station.

“There’s no such report of wrongful arrest, torture and death of anyone at the mentioned station please,” he told SaharaReporters.

Source:- Saharareporters