IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – A Nigerian lady, Ada Mummyya, whose Twitter bio read social justice campaigner and gender rights activist, has raised an alarm over the recent death of a man arrested for fighting in Awka, Anambra State.
According to the tweep, the young man was arrested by the police alongside two others for fighting in Awka.
They were later transferred to Awkuzu SARS where he was last seen alive.
Taking to Twitter, Ada wrote: “Three boys were arrested by @PoliceNG for fighting in Awka, then transferred to Awkuzu SARS. Their parents were made aware and they went to see them last week, they were told they had to pay for damages amounting to N150k.
“The parents are still running around for the money. One of them, Uchenna James Okafor, his parents saw him on Tuesday 3rd January and tried to pay their 50k share and bail him but was asked to return on Thursday as the IPO doesn’t work on Wednesday and wasn’t available.
“They returned on Thursday to be told that their son died the night before.
“The claim is that he woke up at night and hit his head on the wall, they took him to hospital and he died. His parents were not called or informed and as at now they still have no access to his body.
“Again, @PoliceNG why is Awkuzu SARS still functional? Why are they still killing young people? How did James Uchenna Okafor die after seeing his parents the day before? What happened that night? Why wasn’t the family informed? Where’s his body? @Princemoye1 help us. Please!
“Today it is Uchenna, tomorrow it could be me. Please @PoliceNG look into Awkuzu SARS.
“EndSARS #WhathappenedtoUchenna?
“Please help me. Uche is my classmate’s little brother. Please help me get him justice before he becomes Chijioke. Please! @Princemoye1 @SavvyRinu”
On Sunday, the Police reacted to the news of Chijioke’s death in SARS custody via their Twitter handle, @policeAnambraNG.
The Police claimed the deceased was arrested for robbery and not fighting as reported by Ada.
The tweet read: “While we are waiting for the victim’s family to come forward, I wish to state that from the brief, I have now, is not a case of two fighting as alleged but an armed robbery case, and other gang members are still in custody. The case is still under investigation, please.”
However, many Nigerians do not believe the police statement about the victim being arrested for armed robbery case.
A tweep, @EOgugah said: “Armed robbery case and they told them to bring 150k for bail? The police obviously is lying.”
In the same vein, @Mayor38 tweeted: “I Dnt believe you because I have seen fist hand how police change people case. Anyways may God expose the truth.”
@t_GAF123 stated: “Robbery??? will it be possible to provide the details of the robbery incident/scene to the public (just that and nothing else in details). Then you can carry on with your investigations. Otherwise, provide the corpse of the deceased without further delay.”
“Even if the case is robbery .. police have turned into the ones to decide who to die and who to live ? Have they being tried?,” @i_am_nature1 noted.
@UtehGeorge1 asked what the command is doing about cult related killings in Awka.
“@policeAnambraNG what is your command doing about the cult related killings in Awka?
You can’t say you don’t know what’s going on.
“PS, don’t be sending police to go and picking up random youths. Your officers know the culprits.”