Family Demands Accountability For Man’s Death In Police Custody

Family Demands Accountability For Man’s Death In Police Custody
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Following the alleged torture and subsequent death of Mr. Levi Opara at the Tiger Base of the Imo State Police Command, his children are calling for the swift arraignment of the officers involved in his detention.

Ihuoma Opara, the daughter of the deceased, speaking on behalf of her siblings, recounted that her 46-year-old father, from Ezedibia, Emekuku in Owerri North LGA, was embroiled in a minor family dispute with their mother, Mrs. Chioma Opara. This led to a police informant being involved, who then took the matter to the police.

Ihuoma explained that Opara was arrested on Sunday, October 15, 2023. When the family learned of his arrest, they went to the police station the next day and found him in good health. Despite their efforts to secure his release to resolve the family issue, they were told to return on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

“When we came back on Wednesday, we were shocked when the IPO and team leader notified us that my father, who was never sick or suffering from any illness the day he was arrested, was dead,” she said. “On further inquiries, both the IPO and team leader informed us that he was at the police clinic but later changed their story, saying his body had already been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.”

“Upon arrival at the Federal Medical Centre, we saw the lifeless body of our father and, on closer observation, discovered several bruises and knife cuts on his neck, which were hurriedly stitched either before or after his death.”

Defying police wishes, the family wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police, demanding an autopsy in their presence and with their medical personnel. However, the scheduled autopsy on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 10 a.m., was thwarted when the police did not show up as agreed.

Ihuoma added that the IG approved their petition and ordered the immediate arrest of all those involved in the death, transferring the case to Zone 9 Umuahia.