Protest in Umuahia over death of suspect in police custody

www.odogwublog.com reports that protests today erupted in Umuahia, Abia State capital following the alleged death of a suspect, Chinonso Nwazue in a police cell under questionable circumstance.

The protesters who chanted war songs and marched through  major streets in the city accused Police of torturing the suspect to death.

They demanded for justice insisting that the suspect died as a result of police brutality.

But in a swift reaction, police denied torturing the suspect, explaining that he must have died as a result of "excessive intake of alcohol or hard drug."

A press statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officers ( PPRO), Mr. Ogbonnaya Nta said police received a distress call around 1: am Sunday that there was a robbery going on at Awkuzu Street by Niger Road Umuahia.

According to the statement, when police arrived the scene of the purported robbery incident, they met a girl of about 22 years and a boy holding a bag.

" On sighting the police, the young man left the girl and went inside a room  in that premises", the statement said.

Police said the girl claimed that the deceased had attempted to make love to her  without her consent .

According to police, the girl was a girlfriend to the deceased's cousin , a Port Harcourt - based Computer Engineer who had come to do a job in Umuahia and invited his girlfriend over.

The boy friend however was said to have returned to Port Harcourt for an emergency on the previous day, thereby leaving the girl friend under the care of his cousin.

" On the night of 29/10/16 the deceased took the cousin's girlfriend out for dinner and returned with her to the house around 9 pm . He locked up the girl in a room and left. 

"At about 00:30hrs the girl felt somebody caressing her and when she put on the light she discovered it was Chinonso. She rebuffed his advances to make love to her and he resorted to force and threat.

" He eventually asked her to leave his room if she will not succumb to his request. She left the room with her bag and the deceased followed her and demanded for all the money he had spent on her the previous day."

Police further explained that the deceased had resisted arrest but was eventually taken to the station where he was discovered to be under the influence of alcohol.

" At about 05:50 hours , it was observed that the deceased was unconscious and he was taken to the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia for medical  attention where he was later confirmed dead by doctors", police said.

The statement  added that " it must be emphasised that the deceased was not shot nor beaten by the police", adding that investigations are on to unravel the actual cause of the death.