Yesterday, a civil society coalition in Edo State gave the Nigeria Police, Edo State Command, 48 hours to provide an explanation for the events that resulted in the murder of Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, the former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State chapter, at a checkpoint in the state.
When the late Eboigbodin was stopped at a checkpoint, the CSO claimed that the police’s disorderly behavior caused his death.
Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), told reporters in Benin that the deceased’s widow clarified that Comrade Eboigbodin’s car documents were all current when the police stopped him.
Ugolor while quoting the deceased’s wife said they then raised concerns about a discrepancy between the engraved number on the car’s glass and the plate number, an issue he explained to them.
And that the police confiscated his papers, ordered his detention, and told another officer to get into his car in spite of his cooperation. He claimed that the police requested a tow company to transport his vehicle to the station and that the hostile conduct of the officers caused a tense situation that finally resulted in Comrade Eboigbodin’s passing.
To make things worse, he claimed, the officers left the scene without offering any help, leaving only his wife and onlookers to take him to the hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival.
Additionally, given how well-known the late Eboigbodin was, Comrade Omobude Agho, coordinator general of the Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), expressed amazement at the police personnel’ behavior.
“Consequent on the police action that has led to the sudden death of their comrade, the civil rights group are giving the Edo State Police Command a 48-hour ultimatum to investigate the circumstances that led to his death and bring the officers in question to book,” he said.
But information reached that the deceased after he was stopped by the police, who demanded his vehicle paper, came out of the vehicle to make a call and started fidgeting and in the process slumped and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
When contacted, the Edo State Command spokesman, Moses Yamu, said he has not been briefed and would release a statement on the matter tomorrow (today).
