A social justice campaigner has alleged that a boy, Uche Okafor, has died in the custody of policemen at the Akwuzu Police Station In Anambra State, after he was arrested for fighting.
According to the campaigner, who shared the story on Twitter, Uche and two other boys were arrested by operatives of the command last week and their parents were informed of the development.
The Twitter user also alleged that the police had told Uchenna’s parents to bring N150,000 for the release of their son.
However, Uche was reportedly confirmed dead when his parents got to the station on Thursday.
The tweet reads, “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.
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“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!”
Reacting to the user’s plea to investigate the allegation, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said, “I have asked the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command to look into the matter and revert please.”
The Anambra State Police Spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, while reacting through a statement, on Monday, said, “While we are looking into the allegation, the information before me is not a case of two fighting as alleged but a case of armed robbery.
“The Twitter handler is expected to be in the command this morning with more facts. Also, the IPO handling the case is expected with his brief this morning. Thanks.”