The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Sunday visited Ilorin, Kwara State, over the death of 35-year-old Jimoh Abdulquadri reportedly killed by the police.
Jimoh was said to have been tortured to death by some policemen at the commend on Saturday.
According to an investigation, Jimoh of Balogun Fulani community in Erubu, reportedly died in police custody in questionable circumstances.
Addressing Balogun Fulani, the traditional ruler of the community, Egbetokun pleaded with the entire community especially the youths not to take the law into their own hands.
He stated that he had directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the youngster.
He assured that the matter would not be swept under the carpet, saying: “Justice would be served.”
“I am always very excited to visit Ilorin because when I was posted here in 2020, I was warmly received by the people who often prayed for me. Your prayers then, still go with me, it is not an exaggeration that I claim Ilorin’s indigeneship.
“I am very saddened to be here today on a condolence visit on the death of Jimoh whose circumstances surrounding his death is very worrisome.
“Justice must be served. I have already directed investigation, I have given a necessary directive to the CP here. We will get to the root of this case,” he added.
He, however, cautioned the community against rushing into a conclusion but to await the findings of the investigative committee that would be made public.
He said: “Let us not jump to conclusion. I have visited the command and I have directed a thorough investigation.”
Egbetokun said the police would support the family of the deceased.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun during his visit to the family of late Jimoh Abdulquadri in Ilorin.
The Balogun Fulani, youths and the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) demanded justice for the death of Jimoh.
It was gathered that the police operatives arrested the deceased on December 19, 2024 for allegedly owing a fellow colleague at Olam farms in Offa, Peter, N220,000.
The mother of the deceased Mrs. Adijat Moriyike and elder brother, Ismail, explained that the deceased was tortured to death, urging concerned authorities to investigate the matter and arrest culprits for justice.
They accused police operatives of beating and breaking the head of the deceased with hard objects, with his nose oozing blood.
The deceased’s elder brother said that measures were already being taken to settle the N220,000 debt before the incident.
“My brother was said to be owing someone a sum of N220,000 and measures were being taken to settle the debt. He was arrested with his phone and N350,000 at about 5:30 pm on December 20, and by 7:30 pm he had died.
“We were called a few hours after midnight of December 20 to come and bail him when police said they didn’t know what was happening to my brother and that he had been taken to a hospital. By the time we got to the headquarters early in the morning, we were told to meet them at General Hospital, Surulere, Ilorin.
“There, we saw at the mortuary that he was beaten to death with blood all over him. They said he hanged himself with a cloth he was wearing inside a cell. My brother is a tall person that couldn’t have killed himself inside the police cell that they have because of the height of the place.
“The person my late brother was owing money is an elder brother to a policeman who instructed his younger brother to torture my brother. When we got to the mortuary, we saw that his face was swollen, blood oozed from his nose and bruises all over his body,” he narrated.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi (DSP), had said the deceased was invited for allegedly obtaining the money by false pretence adding that no stone will be left unturned.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Ilọrin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has expressed sadness over the incident describing it as a rude shock and regrettable.
He advised authorities of relevant security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of professionalism and compliance to global ethical practices in their daily conduct with members of the society.