Man, Motorcyclist Allegedly tortured and killed by Policemen
A 41-year-old motorcycle rider identified as Ibrahim Kosoko has been killed after being allegedly tortured by some policemen attached to the area D Mushin Police Command in Lagos state.
According to Punch’s report, it was gathered that the 41-year-old Ibrahim cyclist was among nine suspects picked up by the operatives during a raid on a shopping complex at Rainbow bus-stop, along Agege-Motor Road.
It was gathered that the policemen paraded some people in some shops and requested from them the whereabouts of one Ilesanmi, who was said to be the brain behind the mayhem that was created sometime in April 2017, in the Idi-Oro area of Lagos.
After being paraded, some of the suspects rounded up denied association with Ilesanmi or his whereabouts, they were then taken to the area command where they were detained.
According to Punch’s report, the Investigating Police Officer, one Eric, allegedly accused Ibrahim of being Ilesanmi, he then pounced on the Lagos State indigene.
While Eric allegedly dealt with Ibrahim it was said that other Policemen joined him and allegedly told him to confess to the false identity of being the wanted Ilesanmi or tell them his location.
A policeman attached to the Inspector of General of Police monitoring team was said to have risen up to the situation and Ibrahim was eventually released battered. But then, he passed on eventually on Saturday.
Testifying to the incident, one of the shop owners, who identified himself simply as Muazu, told PUNCH that Ibrahim and other customers were arrested by the policemen last week Monday.
Muazu said.
“Some people were eating in my noodle shop, while some others were chatting when the policemen appeared suddenly and arrested them. I don’t know their offences. The policemen didn’t say anything.”
One of those arrested that night, identified as Azeez, said the raid occurred around 11 pm.
Azeez said, “When we got to the station, they said they were looking for Ilesanmi. Ibrahim was the one they tortured the most because of the IPO, Eric, said he must tell them where Ilesanmi was. At another time, Eric said Ibrahim was the one bearing the name. The policemen took our fingerprints after which they took us to our houses to search for exhibits. They found nothing incriminating and returned us to the cell.”
Isiaka Gbadamosi, another suspect, a vulcanizer, narrated that the policemen punched Ibrahim on different parts of his body.
“We were there from Monday until Wednesday. I think Ibrahim sustained internal injuries from the beatings,” he added.
Tunde Yusuf, the owner of two shops in the complex, whose workers were also arrested, contacted the policeman with the IGP monitoring team, identified simply as Supol Ben
.
Yusuf said he begged Ben to help in securing the bail of his workers, as well as Ibrahim.
“I own a lottery shop and a bar in the complex. My workers had closed for the day and were relaxing when they were arrested. Ben said he knew Ibrahim because the rider sometime took him free of charge to his destinations. When he heard about the incident, he went to mediate. But the police only released Ibrahim and Isiaka (Gbadamosi) to him,” he added.
Punch also reported that the families of the other seven suspects paid sums of N7,000 to N12,000 before they were eventually freed.
It was also gathered that Ibrahim took ill shortly after returning from the station on Wednesday. After the brief illness and died.
His widow, Funmilayo Kosoko, 39, said Ibrahim gave up on Saturday after complaining of pains.
Funmilayo said “I was told that a policeman hit him on the head with a big stick during the torture. When he returned, he complained of pains. He died on Saturday. I want the government to arrest that IPO and give us justice.”
Ibrahim has since been buried in Ikorodu on Monday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, denied any allegation of torture.
He added, “The Area Commander said there was no torture and that the suspects arrested were suspected to be part of the Idi-Oro mayhem. As a result, they were questioned and interviewed and it was discovered they had no specific place of abode. A senior officer came for the bail of three of them, including the man in question. He was not tortured or assaulted.”
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