Paul Obukowho, a 24-year-old up-and-coming singer, reportedly passed away while in police custody following alleged torture by members of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Delta State Police Command, Asaba.
A police source confirmed that Paul was detained and subjected to severe torture after visiting the RRS office to inquire about the arrest of his friend, Prosper Odili.
On Wednesday morning, Prosper Odili was arrested by RRS operatives along Redeemed Road, Okpanam, in Oshimili North LGA. Despite a search of his house revealing nothing incriminating, he was still detained at the police headquarters.
Paul Obuko went to the RRS office later that day to enquire about Prosper’s arrest and potential bail arrangements. . However, he was also detained, handcuffed on both hands and legs, and subjected to extreme torture.
By Thursday night, Paul reportedly collapsed inside the cell due to the injuries from the torture. After being taken to the police clinic, he was referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, and finally to the Specialist Hospital Asaba. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday at about 4:00 am.
Eyewitnesses claim that after Paul died, RRS officers who brought him to the hospital fled the scene.
How Paul Obukowho died in custody
The source said, “Prosper Odili was actually walking in company of a friend on Wednesday morning around 8am when men of the RRS, former SARS from police headquarters in Asaba, along the Redeemed road, Okpanam accosted and arrested them unjustly without committing any crime. The police then took the two men back to their houses for a search and after the search, nothing incriminating was found and at that point the police released one of the boys and took Prosper away and put him in the cell at the police headquarters.
“And that very day at about 5pm, the deceased Paul Obukowho went to the RRS office at the state Police command to find out what happened to warrant the arrest of his friend, Prosper and possibly find a way to bail him.
“But shockingly, as Paul got there, he was detained, handcuffed on both hands and legs and was thrown into the cell with severe torture. On Thursday night, Paul collapsed in the cell and was rushed to the police clinic, resulting from the wounds from the torture, the clinic could not handle his situation, he was referred to Specialist Hospital Asaba.
“Finally, he was referred to the Federal Medical Center, FMC Asaba, but, unfortunately for Paul, he couldn’t survive the pains and wounds from the police torture in the cell, he died. Paul died in the early hours of Saturday, at about 4:00am at the FMC, Asaba. And immediately, Paul died the men of the RRS who brought him to the hospital took to their heels and ran away from the hospital premises.”
Calls for justice
At the time of filing this report, Paul’s body remains at the FMC Asaba, with his relatives and friends demanding justice. SP Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), has not yet released an official statement about the incident.
