The Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian police in Ogun, has reacted to the death of Seyi Akinade, a student of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, who committed suicide in the early hours of Wednesday.
POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported how the 23-year-old killed himself following a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from his encounter with SARS operatives in February.
He, alongside 17 students, was allegedly extorted, brutalised and unjustly arrested by the police unit on February 2, 2020. Findings revealed that the deceased had posted his predicament on Twitter a few days before his demise, announcing that he might take his life.
In a thread posted in the midnight of April 17, he complained of scary nightmares resulting from his encounter with the police.
“It happened again tonight, I had the same nightmare that’s been reoccurring for months now since the incident happened, same faces. SARS officials in their black uniform carrying us away in the dead of the night and I wake up with serious chest pain from fear of what I was about to experience.” He wrote.
It happened again tonight, I had the same nightmare that's been reoccurring for months now since the incident happened, same faces. SARS officials in their black uniform carrying us away in the dead of the night and I wake up with serious chest pain from fear of what I was about
— Johnson (@Akinadeoluwa17) April 17, 2020
He further narrated how the officers stormed his abode and whisked them away to Ibara Police station at about 12 midnight. “They didn’t say anything and they threatened to waste me if I didn’t stop asking silly questions. We were handcuffed like armed robbers all 17 of us, we were squeezed into small cars like goats to the slaughter, and from camp Abeokuta, we were taken down to Ibara police station.”
Also, Akinade mentioned that he was a Forex trader and that he lost almost twenty thousand dollars as a result of the incident. He, however, decried how his life has been in shambles after the February incident.
“I have receipts for everything I said on here in case anyone thinks I’m lying. Suicide has been the only thought on my mind every day. So in case, I hurt myself and anyone is curious as to why I did it.”
Meanwhile, at about 10:24 pm on Tuesday, he left a suicide note on Twitter, biding the world a ‘goodbye’.
“I guess its goodbye now…no one heard my cry for justice and this had to happen haha…bye world.”
I guess its goodbye now…no one heard my cry for justice and this had to happen haha…bye world.
— Johnson (@Akinadeoluwa17) April 21, 2020
Akinade’s stepbrother, Toye Salahudeen, confirmed his death. Mr Salahudeen said he was informed by his mum earlier on Wednesday that his stepbrother committed suicide. He was buried on Wednesday afternoon.
SARS reaction
In an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday evening, Tijani Mohammed, the Officer-in-Charge of SARS operatives in the state, expressed shock at the news of Akinade’s death.
When briefed about the deceased’s narrative, the senior police officer argued that; normally, a SARS officer cannot make an arrest and detain the culprit at a divisional police station.
“He will call SARS because they wore black. SARS will not detain anyone in Ibara. Seventeen of his friends who were arrested with him can testify. People are using the name to perpetrate serious damaging act. How will SARS leave Mapon and carry 17 of them to Ibara.”
“I’m tired of this (security) outfit. One would teach them to ensure that human beings are treated as human beings. What has he committed? I don’t do Yahoo case,” He told POLITICS NIGERIA.
“It is a pity… When someone is not an armed robber. We are parents. I have two graduates. I know what it means to send a child to school. I always advise these people. Asides damaging the name of the outfit, the death of the boy too. I’m sad…” Mohammad said, lamenting the death of Akinade.
He, however, requested necessary details from our reporter for a proper investigation.
