A 24-year-old aspiring musician, Paul Obukowho, has reportedly died while in police custody in Delta State. Sources indicate that he was detained and allegedly subjected to torture by officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) under the Delta State Police Command in Asaba.
According to a report, a police insider confirmed the incident, stating that Obukowho’s ordeal began after his friend, Prosper Odili, was arrested in what appeared to be a random operation. The arrest took place on Wednesday at approximately 8:00 a.m. along Redeemed Road, Okpanam, in the Oshimili North Local Government Area.
Following his apprehension, Odili was escorted to his residence, where officers conducted a search before transferring him to a holding cell at the Delta State Police Headquarters in Asaba.
Obukowho, concerned about his friend’s detention, visited the RRS office to seek information. However, sources claim that upon arrival, he was also taken into custody, restrained with handcuffs on both his hands and legs, and subjected to severe torture before being placed in a cell. His death has since sparked outrage, raising concerns over alleged police brutality in the state.
According to the source, Obukowho’s friend, Prosper Odili, was walking with another individual around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday along Redeemed Road, Okpanam, when RRS operatives reportedly stopped and arrested them without cause.
The officers took both men to their homes for a search, but after finding nothing incriminating, one was released while Odili was taken into custody and placed in a cell at the state police headquarters.
Later that day, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Obukowho visited the RRS office to inquire about his friend’s arrest and explore possible avenues for securing his release. However, upon arrival, he was detained, restrained with handcuffs on both his hands and legs, and subjected to what sources describe as brutal torture before being thrown into a cell.
On Thursday night, Obukowho reportedly collapsed due to injuries sustained from the alleged torture. Officers rushed him to the police clinic, but the facility lacked the capacity to handle his critical condition. He was subsequently referred to Specialist Hospital, Asaba, and later transferred to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Asaba.
Despite medical intervention, Obukowho succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Saturday, around 4:00 a.m. The source claimed that upon his death, the RRS officers who had transported him to the hospital immediately fled the premises.
As of the time of this report, Obukowho’s body remains at FMC Asaba, while his grieving relatives and friends demand justice. Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
