Tragic Death in Detention: Anambra Family Seeks Justice in Court.

The Obiorah family of Enugwu-Aguleri, located in the Anambra East Local Government Area, has initiated legal proceedings against the Nigeria Police Force over the mysterious death of their son, Ebuka Obiorah, while in custody at the Awkuzu Police Station. This station, notorious for its past as the headquarters of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has once again come under scrutiny due to this tragic incident.

The late Ebuka had traveled from his residence in Onitsha to his village for family obligations. Unbeknownst to his loved ones, this visit would be his last. Days after his departure, the family was shocked to learn that he had been detained at Otuocha Police Station under circumstances they still struggle to comprehend. A close friend, who was released from the same station, broke the news of Ebuka’s detention to the family, leading them to discover a series of unsettling events.

Maduka Obiorah, Ebuka’s brother, narrated the harrowing experience: “I saw my brother, alive and well, at Awkuzu Police Station. Less than 24 hours later, the police informed me he was dead.” Maduka explained that Ebuka had initially been held at Otuocha Police Station for several days before being transferred to the Awkuzu facility. Despite repeated attempts to secure his release, including bringing in a lawyer, their efforts were in vain. The next time Maduka went to the station, he was confronted with the devastating news of his brother’s death.

The family has been left with more questions than answers. According to Maduka, Ebuka’s arrest was a result of mistaken identity. An informant had erroneously pointed him out as the suspect in a murder case, leading to his wrongful detention. The real target was another individual with a similar name, but by the time this error was discovered, it was too late.

“The police admitted that my brother was a victim of mistaken identity,” Maduka revealed. “They even told us we could secure his bail because of the error. But before we could do so, he was already gone.” Adding to the family’s anguish, Maduka disclosed that Ebuka’s phone went missing upon his arrest, and the police refused to allow him to contact anyone during his detention.

In their quest for justice, the Obiorah family has enlisted the help of a lawyer to hold the police accountable for Ebuka’s death. The loss is particularly painful given the circumstances surrounding it—an innocent man, caught up in a tragic error, losing his life in the confines of a police cell.

This incident has reignited concerns about the operations at Awkuzu Police Station, which has a long history of controversy. The Obiorah family’s lawsuit is not just a quest for justice for Ebuka, but also a cry for reform in a system that allowed such a tragedy to occur.

The case is expected to bring much-needed attention to the practices within Nigeria’s police force, especially in facilities with a notorious past like Awkuzu. As the legal battle unfolds, the family hopes that their pursuit of justice will prevent others from suffering a similar fate.