As citizens continue to demand for an end to police brutality, a South Africa-based Nigerian, Nnamdi Ohanekwurum has fallen victim to the unethical conduct of some security operatives.
Nnamdi, who recently returned to his hometown in Amagu, Orlu East Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, died in the custody of the anti-kidnapping unit of the state police command.
According to his elder brother, Chigozie, Nnamdi was randomly arrested — for no offence — and was killed in police custody.
Punch quotes Chigozie as saying: “The incident happened on August 24, 2021. My brother, who was preparing to return to South Africa, was sent on an errand to Orie-Nempi Market to inquire about the prices of drinks to be used for a remembrance ceremony.
“Two hours after he left, some youths from the neighbouring community ran to our house to inform us that four armed policemen arrested him. The youth said they ran but he didn’t as a clear conscience fears no evil.
“Upon receiving this shocking news, I searched for him in neighbouring communities and all the police stations, including the area command, but I was told they never facilitated any arrest that day.
“I returned home to explain all I went through and some family members suggested they might be kidnappers and might call soon.
“But on August 28, a young man came to inform us that he saw my brother at the anti-kidnapping unit in Owerri.”
Chigozie said the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Asabor Marine, accepted that he arrested Nnamdi on August 24 and that he died in their custody on August 29 “after he was bitten by another inmate”. But autopsy result showed otherwise, as “the pathologist said there was nothing like a human bite on my brother’s corpse”, Chigozie insisted.
Now all he wants is justice for his late brother.
