By Newsmata
The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police has ordered immediate investigation into circumstances surrounding the sudden death of the former state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin at a police checkpoint on Tuesday.
The order for the investigation followed a petition to it by civil society organisations in the state demanding a thorough investigation into the unfortunate death of one of their own.
A statement on Thursday by the public relations officer of the Command, Mosese Joel Yamu, a superintendent of police, (SP) said commissioner of police, Umoru Ozigi, received with great concern, the news of Eboigbodin’s death allegedly due to Police “unprofessional conduct”.
Yamu said “The Commissioner of Police, CP Umoru P. Ozigi, wishes to use this medium to commiserate with the widow, family, friends and associates of the deceased over the loss and prays for the repose of his soul.
“He further noted the cordial working relationship existing between the Police, Civil Society Organizations, NLC and all critical stakeholders in the state and has therefore, directed the immediate investigation into the incident”.
The statement said the Command remained committed “to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice prevails in every situation”.
Newsmata recalls that Eboigbodin’s death, according to family sources who witnessed it, occurred when a team of policemen at a check point around Upper Sokponba Road, stopped the car in which he, his wife and daughter were riding. After checking his papers which were said to be up to date, they reportedly raised another issue and insisted he followed them to the station.
They were said to have seized his documents and one of them entered his vehicle. According to his wife, “He introduced himself yet to no avail. Upon the altercations, he got a heart attack, and the police men ran and left him. It was good Samaritans that rushed him to the hospital where he was confirmed dead before arrival”.
Addressing journalists on the tragic incident, civil society groups in the state under the aegis EDOSCO, gave the police 48 hours to explain the circumstances leading to Eboigbodin’s death, and identify the policemen involved or they would take to the streets in protest.
Addressing Journalists in Benin, the Executive Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, said initial investigations and firsthand accounts from his wife revealed a troubling sequence of events.
Ugolor quoted late Eboigbodin’s wife as saying that the policemen raised concerns about discrepancy between the engraved number on the car’s glass and the plate number, an issue he calmly explained to them.
Ugolor said the deceased’s wife lamented that despite her husband’s compliance, the policemen seized his documents, ordered his arrest, and instructed another colleague to enter his vehicle.
Ignoring his spirited defence, the policemen reportedly called for a towing van to take the car to the police station. The widow of the former labour leader attributed his death to the aggressive behaviour of the policemen which put him under intense pressure causing him to slump and die.
Ugolor said to make matters worse, the policemen allegedly fled the scene immediately the man collapsed instead of providing first aid assistance, leaving only the frightened wife and bystanders to rush him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Eulogising Eboigbodin, the ANEEJ Executive Director described him as a dedicated leader, who also served at different times as National Vice Chairman of NULGEN, pioneer coordinator of Edo Civil Society Organisation (EDOSCO), and a founding member of the Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON), among other roles.
Ugolor said: “In light of this tragic incident, we are calling on the Edo State Government, the Commissioner of Police, and all relevant authorities to conduct a full investigation to identify and hold accountable the policemen involved in this incident. Measures should also be taken to ensure that such unprofessional conduct is addressed and prevented in the future.”
Sharing Ugolor’s sentiments, the coordinator-general of EDOCSO, Comrade Omobude Agho, noted that the deceased was well known in the state and expressed surprise at the actions of the policemen.
Also adding his voice, Agho said “We give the Edo State Police Command a 48-hour ultimatum to investigate the circumstances that led to his death and bring the officers in question to book.”