By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
Unenurhie community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was thrown into mourning during the yuletide period as the vice chairman (name withheld) of the community youth body died in police custody.
The youth leader, who was arrested and detained on December 20, 2023 by the Nigerian Police under ‘A’ Division, Ughelli Police Station was reported to have died in the police cell on December 24 without the true cause of death being known as at the time of filing this report.
In the same way, the reason for his arrest was not too clear to the family and the community when our correspondent visited.
But a member of the family who did not want his name in print said, “my brother was deceived to Ughelli by the police in disguise where he was arrested and detained in their cell over 48 hours without charging him to court. Unfortunately, he died in their hands and they have questions to answer when the time comes.”
When our correspondent spoke with the president-general of the community, Mr. Peter Maison, he said, “It was really very devastating and disgusting to us as a community to hear this sad news this morning that, the vice chairman of the community youth died in police custody. Well, for now, we don’t know the cause of his death or even the reason for his arrest. I believe the police will explain how he died in the police cell and also explain the reason why he was arrested when the time comes.
“The youth leader in question was somebody that we knew very well in the community as a quiet and humble young man. He was not a trouble maker or a stubborn type. In time past, we have willingly handled over to the police some evil boys in this comment for one offence or the other. As a decent community, we can’t elect a criminal to be one of our youth leaders. So at the appropriate time, the police will surely explain to the world why the young man was arrested and later died in their custody.”
All efforts to speak to the elder brother of the deceased who is also chairman of the community’s vigilante group, and the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, over the incident proved abortive.
The deceased, who died at his prime, is survived by a wife, four kids with the last baby just barely two months old, a mother, siblings and many family members.
