The family of 35-year-old Abdulqadri Olatunji Jimoh, who reportedly died in police custody in Ilorin, Kwara State, allegedly due to torture, has demanded that the Nigeria Police Force pay damages for the death of their son.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on Wednesday, the convener of a human rights campaign called Justice For Olatunji Jimoh, Mr. Owolabi Olumuyiwa-Tayo, also requested that the police provide the cause of death and make the autopsy report public.
Present at the press conference were the deceased’s children: Aisha Abdulqadri (9 years), Amidat Abdulqadri (6 years); his mother, Adijat Jimoh (60 years); his father, Jimoh Alabi (65 years); and his elder brother, Ismail Jimoh, among other members of the Balogun Fulani area in the Ilorin Emirate.
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The family, who stated that the matter is already in court to press for justice, added, “The family is crying out to the public and the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly investigate the case so that it will not be swept under the carpet.”
“We are asking that the officers who unlawfully arrested him be punished. We also ask that the welfare and education of his two children be addressed, and that his two aged parents be looked after due to their failing health from the shock they suffered. Additionally, we demand that the Nigeria Police Force pay damages,” the convener said.
Mr. Owolabi Olumuyiwa-Tayo, who recounted the events leading to Abdulqadri’s death, said the deceased was lured from his house by a co-worker, Jelili Kehinde, before being arrested by the police.
“It is no longer news that a 35-year-old promising farmer and the breadwinner from the family of Jimoh Alabi (Olatunji Jimoh) died in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force on December 20, 2024. It was established that on December 19, 2024, Olatunji Jimoh was washing clothes in front of his house in the Balogun Fulani area of Ilorin, Kwara State, around 5:00 pm when a friend of his came to lure him out.
“According to a reliable source, Olatunji was abducted by members of the Nigeria Police Force Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) while he was on a bike, and Mr. Jelili Kehinde, who had lured him out, alighted from the bike. The officers jumped on the bike and drove him to the police headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“At around 6:00 pm, Olatunji called a family member, who later went to the station to inquire about the situation, knowing that Olatunji owed his superior at work, Mr. Gabriel Sunday, at Olam Offa, the sum of N220,000.00.
“His family was willing to pay the amount, which was part of N425,000.00 he had from his aunt. However, the police officers—Mr. Adekunle Emmanuel Ogunshola, Mr. Emmanuel Ajiboye, and Mr. Oluwole Bamiteko—denied him bail, even after the payment was made. The family was told to return the following morning while his mother cried profusely.
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“Between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm, a strange call was made to his sister, asking them to come to the police station. When she explained that it was late and she had a baby to care for, the calls continued until around 2:00 am to 7:00 am. The family gathered in front of the police headquarters but was not allowed to enter until around 8:00 am, when they were informed that Olatunji had hung himself in the cell.
“The mother broke down in tears and demanded to see the cell. Upon arriving at the cell, it was discovered that the cell was not even six feet long, while Olatunji was taller than six feet. They were later told that he knelt down and hanged himself.
“The family then demanded to see the remaining body of Olatunji when they learned that the body had been taken to the mortuary without their consent.
“Between 9:00 am and 10:00 am, they arrived at the mortuary and found that his lap had already been dissected, and some wounds were discovered on his body.”
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