The family of a 40-year-old man, Taofeek Azeez, has demanded justice following his death in police custody at Agbeye, in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State.
DAILY POST gathered that Azeez was arrested over an alleged theft of cocoa seeds.
Azeez reportedly died a few hours after local vigilantes apprehended him on Wednesday and handed him over to the Nigeria Police.
Reports indicated that he was first taken to the palace of the Alagbeye of Agbeye before being transferred to a police outpost for questioning and detention.
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Speaking with journalists on Friday, the deceased’s brother, Fatai Alimi, called on the Osun Commissioner of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death.
Alimi said: “Azeez left home for the farm on Tuesday morning. The family later learnt that he had been taken to a police station over the alleged theft of cocoa seeds.
“Before that, he was taken to the palace, where he was subjected to corporal punishment and stripped naked.”
He questioned the police account that his brother had taken his own life in custody, describing the circumstances of the death as suspicious and calling for the intervention of the police and state government.
“It was surprising to hear that he had killed himself inside the cell; his death looks suspicious,” he said.
Alimi, who added that Azeez was a father of six children from three wives and had left behind an aged mother, urged the authorities to ensure that the circumstances of his death were thoroughly investigated.
Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Azeez had been apprehended by members of the community over the allegation of stealing cocoa seeds before being taken to the monarch, who directed that he be handed over to the police.
“The deceased was apprehended by the community for allegedly stealing cocoa seeds. The monarch instructed the community members to transfer him to the police outpost, where he was questioned and detained.
“A few hours later, when the officer went to check on him in the cell, he had committed suicide,” the police spokesperson stated.
He added that the officer responsible for the cell would be interrogated as part of the investigation.
Ojelabi said the police had contacted the deceased’s family and were taking necessary steps to question the officer in charge, although preliminary findings indicated suicide.
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