The Oba Yoruba Abuja, Olusegun Salawu, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure justice for the family of late Oluwagbenga Shittu, a mechanic, who allegedly died in police custody in Abuja.

Mr Salawu made the call while briefing newsmen after he visited the family of the deceased at Pyakasa community in New Lugbe District on Wednesday in Abuja.

He expressed sadness over the sudden demise of late Mr Shittu and emphasised the need for the IGP to order a thorough investigation into the remote and immediate causes that led to his death.

He explained that late Mr Shittu was initially rescued by the police officers at Kabusa community from an angry mob for knocking down two passengers on a motorbike on  May 13.

“Thereafter, the police moved Shittu to the station and the owner of the car that Shittu drove and had an accident with rushed to the station to bail Shittu and settle the medical bill for the treatment of the passengers that were injured.

“After settling the bills, he also appealed to the police to release Shittu and they insisted that he must bring a surety from Kabusa to stand for him.

“He left the station with the hope of bringing the surety the next day.

“On getting to the station the next day, the police officers in charge of the case told him that Shittu fell ill and they rushed him to the hospital where he eventually died.

“We are calling on the IGP to order the investigation into the situation surrounding the demise of Shittu with a view to ensuring justice for his helpless widow and children,” the Oba said.

He also appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Social Development Secretariat to come to the aide of the helpless widow and her five children to enable them to be self-reliant.

Earlier, the police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) disclosed in a statement made available by the command’s spokesperson, Mariam Yusuf, that the command had launched an investigation into the incident.

The spokesperson insisted that the late Mr Shittu was rescued by the police from the angry mob who had been beaten him to a pulp.

She said that the suspect fell ill as a result of the beating and was rushed to the hospital for treatment where the doctor certified him dead.

“The FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Bala Ciroma, sympathises with the families of the victim and has ordered a discrete investigation into the incident,” she added.

(NAN)