Ilorin, Nigeria – A man identified as Jimoh Adetunji Abdulquadri has reportedly died in the custody of the Kwara State Police Command, sparking outrage and calls for justice. He was detained last Friday over an alleged failure to repay a debt.
According to the police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, speaking on behalf of Commissioner of Police Victor Olaiya, Mr Abdulquadri was arrested for allegedly obtaining ₦220,000 under false pretences. However, his family insists the actual amount in dispute was ₦200,000, questioning the police’s claim.
Videos circulating on social media showed grieving family members accusing the police of torturing Mr Abdulquadri, a claim the command has denied. In one of the videos, a woman identified as Aishat Biola, a breastfeeding mother and the deceased’s sister, alleged that he was lured and forcefully taken away by officers.
“My younger brother, who was killed, was cracking jokes with me when they came to pick him up,” Ms Biola said in Yoruba. Other mourners described Mr Abdulquadri as a peaceful individual, urging authorities to ensure justice.
Another mourner said to be the deceased’s mother, alleged that the police extorted all the money her son had before his death.
In response, Commissioner Olaiya has ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the death. Sources disclosed that officers from the Kwara State Investigation Bureau, who reportedly carried out the arrest, are also under internal investigation.
The incident has raised concerns over police conduct, with calls mounting for accountability and transparency in the ongoing probe.