Allege Torture: Police, Family Bicker Over Death Of Dauda In Bauchi

…family, eye witnesses insist, the deceased died of torture in custody

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The controversy surrounding the death of a 33 year old Dauda Danladi is generating ripples between the family of the deceased and the Bauchi State Police Command as the family members are insisting that he died as a result of violent torture on him by the police while in their custody.

But, the police has vehemently debunked the claims by the family, saying that the late Dauda, who was arrested by its operatives of the Yelwa Division of Bauchi State Command, died of an asthma attack after he was helped to the hospital by the Police.

The Commissioner of Police, Sylvester Abiodun Alabi while reacting to the accusation by the family of Dauda, said that there was no iota of truth in the claim by the family.

CP Alabi said; “Nobody died in Police custody anywhere in the Command. Some people were arrested with locally made revolver pistol with ammunition, 5 of them, 3 were released because they were not linked with the issue while the other ones are still in our custody.

“The person that died was not even part of them. He was about 200 meters away from them. It was when he was gasping for breath in his business place that he was rushed to the hospital where he died. The Police helped him to the hospital because he was gasping for breath.

“If Police did not assist now, it would be another case, Police now assisted, again na wahala, they are claiming he died in our custody, haba!

“I have told the PPRO to go to the media and tell people the correct version of the story,” he stated.

However, immediate younger sister of the deceased, Dorothy Danladi, while narrating what happened said; “I live in Kagadama. On Thursday night, his wife called me few minutes after 9pm and told me what happened that Police arrested her husband. I told her that no problem, tomorrow morning (Friday), we will go there to know what actually happened.

“Friday morning, we went to the Police Station, the wife and our mother had gone ahead, the wife now called to tell me that she was told at the Station that her husband had fainted and had been rushed to the hospital. I immediately drooped what I was doing and rushed to meet them.

“One of the Officers on duty asked her if he was on medication which she answered in the affirmative because he was taking local herbs to cure an infection he had. We thought that since he did not take the herb the previous night before he was arrested, he will take it that morning. We took the herbs to the station and handed it over to them at the counter.

“Our mother and his wife were later called inside one office at the station while we were outside. I just suddenly heard cries from the inside and I rushed in only to be told that my brother was dead. At that point I became wild and scattered everywhere, I even broke one of the windows glass,” she said.

A traumatized Dorothy, who was sobbing, further said; “All we are asking for is justice. First, let them release the corpse to enable us confirm that it is actually Dauda. We will give him a befitting burial because he was dear to us. After that, we will take the next necessary action to get justice for him.

“He just got married in December last year. The wicked people did not allow him to enjoy his marriage. Now, his young wife has been made a widow in her youthful age. Nigerians should come to our aid to get justice for our innocent brother,” Dorothy cried out.

When our correspondent visited the house on Friday, family members and several sympathisers were seen weeping and agonizing over what they described as an act of wickedness by people who are paid to protect lives and properties of innocent citizens.

An eyewitness, Mrs Liatu Nuhu, who sells kunu gyada close to the shop of the deceased, said that the police and the vigilante arrived in Gestapo style and started arresting people indiscriminately.

According to Liatu Nuhu; “I was doing my business when, suddenly, the police and some vigilantes came, more than 10 of them, and started arresting people. The Divisional Police Officer got out of the vehicle and directed them, saying; ‘arrest him, arrest him’.

“And that was how they arrested the boys playing snooker, others who were chatting and the deceased who was standing in front of his shop. We kept telling them not to arrest him, we told them that he was our neighbour here and we knew him to be someone of good character. We asked why they would arrest him, but they still took him away,” she said.

The middle aged woman who was in shock further said; “Today (Friday) in the morning, we went to the police station around 7am, they told us to stay at a far distance and wait for the DPO to come to the office. So, I decided to go back to my place of work.

“By 10.15am, I returned, only for me to see the deceased’s wife crying profusely. When I asked her what happened, she told me that her husband was dead”, she agonized.

Another eyewitness, Madam Sheba, who fries local bean cake in the same area, said; “We are doing our business when we suddenly saw policemen dropping from a Hilux van and started arresting youths who were playing snooker game. Uncle (that was how they called late Dauda) was inside his kiosk where he sells recharge cards and charge phones.

“They just went inside and dragged him out, all of us were shouting that he was not part of the crowd but they refused to listen to us. Their leader was just ordering that everyone must be picked. That was what happened. It was just this morning that I heard that he was dead. It is indeed painful,” she concluded.