By Shola Akingboye
A Retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr. Mamman Danladi, is demanding compensation from the Nigerian Police Force for allegedly torturing his nephew to death.
The Complainant told the Independent Investigative Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police on Monday that his nephew was extra judiciously killed over an alleged theft.
http://defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad
In his testimony before the Justice Suleiman Galadima led panel, Danladi revealed that on 10th January, 2007 at about 10am, his 25 year old nephew Kenneth Yusuf was arrested by the police on the allegation that he stole 2 bags of cement.
According to Danladi, he emphasized that Kenneth was hale and hearty when he was handcuffed and forcefully taken away to the police station in Jikwoyi, in FCT. He added that his nephew was allegedly severely beaten by five policemen while he was being interrogated at Jikwoyi and was later locked up in a cell.
In his narration, Danladi said on the 11th January, 2007, the policemen continued with their torture till Kenneth lost consciousness. According to the retired police officer, he got the information from Kenneth’s friends; Felix Dabo and Peter Orji who were present when the deceased was subjected to cruel and inhumane degrading treatment by the policemen.
The retired DSP said his nephew was left in an unconscious state for hours before he was taken to POGBA Clinic and Maternity in Jikwoyi, where he was dumped without medical attention because the police refuse to deposit money for the commencement of treatment.
Danladi stated that it was the call by Kenneth’s friends notifying the deceased father, (Yusuf Danladi), who is the complainant’s younger brother, that his son is in coma and has been left at the POGBA clinic by the police unattended.
Immediately, Yusuf Danladi, the father of the decease came from Kwoi,in Jaba local government area on 12th January,2007 and went straight to the hospital where he deposited the sum of N3,000 for treatment. Sadly, before anything could be done for Kenneth he died same day.
Meanwhile, the Complainant pleaded before the panel that all the family want is that the perpetrators be punished and compensation be paid to cover for the hospital, morgue and burial expenses.