A man identified as Mr. Boyo Adesina has accused the police of allegedly torturing his brother, Olaoluwa Bolarinwa, to death while in detention.
Adesina made the allegation when he on Thursday appeared before Ogun Judicial Panel of Investigation set up by Governor Dapo Abiodun, as demanded by the #EndSARS protesters.
The accused police officers, according to DailyPost, were those attached to Inspector General of Police Tactical Squad, in Itele, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government area of Ogun State.
Recounting the fateful incident, the Lagos resident told the panel that his brother, Bolarinwa was arrested on March 29, 2020 in Ibadan by some men of the IGP tactical squad.
According to him, Bolarinwa was initially detained for a night at Mokola Police Station in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Thereafter, Adesina explained that his brother was taken away to an unknown destination, which he said put their family in trouble as they moved from one police station to another to know his whereabouts.
He expressed;
I was told he was moved from Mokola to Ayobo in Lagos State. Getting to Ayobo police station, they checked the incident register but couldn’t find him. I went back to Mokola and I was told that it was written in the incident register that he had been transferred to Obada in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He was transferred by a policeman nicknamed ‘Ijoba System’.
The distraught man said he also visited the police station at Obada, but could not find his late brother.
It was learnt that Adesina got the said Ijoba System’s phone number from one Oreoluwa Abiona, who was also arrested the same day Bolarinwa was arrested.
According to Adesina, the police officer, who he described as the IPO of the case, told him on phone that Bolarinwa did not commit any crime.
He narrated that the officer said the tactical squad was only using the deceased to track a suspect known as Bosun, with a promise that he would be released soon.
The man recalled how he travelled from Lagos State to Ogun State on several occasions to see his brother, but without success.
The bereaved brother noted that he called the police officer known as Ijoba System on the phone again and narrated his ordeals to him.
This time, he said the policeman asked him to return to Itele the following day, saying;
I called Ijoba System over the phone again; I prayed and begged him to tell me where my brother was. He told me to return to Itele the following day.
When I went there, the officers spoke to Ijoba System on the phone. They brought out the incident register and I saw Olaoluwa’s name.
Thereafter, I met Toyin Owosebi. She asked me if Olaoluwa had been sick before, I said no. She said my brother was an armed robber, I said it was not possible. Then, she told me my brother died three days after he was arrested.
Adesina further explained;
I said it wasn’t true because Olaolauwa spoke with his wife three weeks after his arrest. Later, I asked for the body of Olaoluwa, but the woman police officer said he was an armed robber, so they could not release the corpse to the family
I know they tortured my brother to death inside the cell. This is unfair. My brother left behind a wife and three children. He is also survived by an aged mother. Who will cater to them?
He appealed to the panel to ensure the release of his brother’s corpse, while also asking that the policemen involved in the case be prosecuted.
Adesina expressed;
Above all, I want compensation for the survivors of my brother. His wife, kids and mother are now living in poverty. He was their breadwinner. We need justice. This matter must not be swept under the carpet.
