Some youths of Biogbolo community in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State on Saturday staged a protest in Yenagoa over the death of an indigene, who they said was unlawfully arrested and detained by men of the Nigeria Police Force.
The protesters, who comprised Epie-attisa indigenes resident in Biogbolo, accused the police of carrying out a shoddy investigation and deliberately killing their kinsman.
The aggrieved youths were seen chanting “Commissioner of Police is a Killer!” as they blocked the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road with canopies to the dismay of motorists and commuters using the road.
According to reports, the suspect identified as Goodluck Oviekeme was arrested in connection to an armed robbery incident at Biogbolo, Yenagoa, that left an officer fatally injured.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, in a statement, said that the suspect was observed to be running at a high temperature, after which he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he eventually died.
While consoling the family of the deceased, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng E. Echeng said that thorough investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the death.
The statement read in part, “the deceased suspect was arrested in connection with an armed robbery incident that occurred on 21 September 2021, at Biogbolo, Yenagoa, when hoodlums attacked a police patrol team, fatally injured Inspector Ugbotor Sunday and carted away his rifle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that Goodluck Oviekeme was the mastermind of the attack on the patrol team. He was arrested on 22 September 2021 at about 0300 hours. While in police custody, the suspect was observed to be running a high temperature and was rushed to the hospital, where he eventually died.
“The CP condoles with the family of the deceased and assures the general public that investigation has commenced and the outcome will be made public.”
Speaking to journalists in Bayelsa, the Paramount Ruler of Biogbolo Community, Chief Ibu Michael explained that indigenes of the community who were arrested on Tuesday by the Police, have been detained without the command stating reasons for their arrest.
He noted that they were refused access to the detainees when they visited on Thursday over concern for their wellbeing.
Also speaking, the President of Epie Kingdom Youth Congress, Ayimini Gilbert while condemning the illegal arrest and detention of indigenes, called for their unconditional release, which he said is a way of creating a cordial relationship between the community and the police.
Also, a relative of the deceased, Ebitonye Michael said that men of the Police special squad, “Operation Puff Adder” arrested Oviekeme on Wednesday over an alleged crime, which he claimed, led to his murder in the police cell and his body dumped at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Yenagoa.
