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A 22-year-old man, Jacob Emmanuel, has reportedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, after being detained for eight months without trial. Emmanuel, who was allegedly tortured to death, had been arrested on suspicion of theft, and his body was later deposited at a morgue without notifying his family.
Sources within the FCT Command revealed that Emmanuel was held by officers at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in the Kado area of Abuja, where he was subjected to inhumane treatment. The family alleged that the police demanded a bribe of ₦200,000 from them in exchange for his release. Despite repeated petitions from the family and their lawyer to various authorities, including the FCT Commissioner of Police and the National Human Rights Commission, Emmanuel was neither charged to court nor released on bail.
The young man, a resident of Mpape, Abuja, was arrested in February 2024 in the presence of his widowed mother. He was accused of stealing a television, an offense the family argues is bailable. However, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), identified as Paul Shafi, allegedly refused to grant bail or allow medical treatment, even as Emmanuel’s health deteriorated.
In a statement, the family lawyer recounted that the police had completed their investigation, recovered the stolen property, and released others involved, yet they failed to release Emmanuel. The lawyer further alleged that Emmanuel was transferred to the infamous detention facility known as “Abattoir” in Guzape, where he suffered severe torture and neglect.
An update from a police source confirmed Emmanuel’s death, stating that he was sick in custody, and efforts to save him were unsuccessful. The source added that his body was moved to Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital’s morgue.
The family, through their lawyer, has demanded justice for Emmanuel, accusing the police of negligence, cruelty, and torture. In one petition, the lawyer described how Emmanuel’s condition worsened during detention, and the family’s pleas for medical attention were ignored. The family also criticized the actions of IPO Shafi, accusing him of boasting about similar incidents and obstructing their access to Emmanuel before his death.
Speaking on the incident, the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, assured that the command would investigate and provide findings. Meanwhile, the family has called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and other authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, describing the officers involved as “bad eggs” tarnishing the image of the Force.
The tragic death of Jacob Emmanuel has renewed calls for accountability within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and for reforms to prevent further human rights violations.
