After Encounter With Police In Benin City, Former Chairman Of The Edo NLC Collapses And Dies
Benin City After a run-in with police at a roadblock in Benin City’s Upper Sokponba neighborhood, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, a former chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State, unfortunately died. The police have been given a 48-hour deadline by civil society organizations to find and prosecute the implicated personnel.
According to reports, Eboigbodin and his wife were stopped on Monday as they were driving. Initial reports from Eboigbodin’s wife indicate that the police requested his car documents, which were current, according to Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ). They apparently had issues regarding a difference between the plate number and the inscription on the car’s glass. Despite providing explanations, the police reportedly seized his documents, ordered his arrest, and called for a tow truck to impound his car.
Eboigbodin reportedly slumped as the scene’s tension increased. Bystanders and his wife hurried him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Instead of offering assistance, witnesses said the officers left the area. Accusations of misconduct have been refuted by the Edo State Police Command.
According to police spokesperson SP Moses Yamu, the version given to authorities by the deceased’s wife differs from the story provided by civil rights organizations. Justice for Eboigbodin has been demanded by civil society organizations such as the Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOSCO) and ANEEJ. Rev. Ugolor described him as a dedicated leader and activist who served as the former NLC Chairman in Edo State, National Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and a pioneer in various civil society initiatives.
Eboigbodin was a well-known and respected man in Edo State, and EDOSCO Coordinator-General Comrade Omobude Agho expressed dismay at the police’s actions.
The organizations have given the police a 48-hour deadline to identify the implicated officers and offer a thorough explanation of what happened. They maintain that the episode highlights the necessity of accountability for officers’ behavior and reform within the Nigerian Police Force.
The public, civil society organizations, and labor unions have all expressed their outrage and demanded justice in response to Eboigbodin’s passing.
