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A 24-year-old upcoming singer, Paul Obukowho, has reportedly died in police custody after allegedly being tortured by officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Delta State Police Command, Asaba.
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According to Sahara Reporters, a police source confirmed that Paul was detained and subjected to severe torture after visiting the RRS office to inquire about the arrest of his friend, Prosper Odili.
On Wednesday morning, Prosper Odili was arrested by RRS operatives along Redeemed Road, Okpanam, in Oshimili North LGA. Despite a search of his house revealing nothing incriminating, he was still detained at the police headquarters.
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Later that day, Paul Obukowho went to the RRS office to ask about Prosper’s arrest and possibly secure his bail. However, he was also detained, handcuffed on both hands and legs, and subjected to extreme torture.
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By Thursday night, Paul reportedly collapsed inside the cell due to the injuries from the torture. He was rushed to the police clinic, then referred to the Specialist Hospital Asaba, and finally to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday at about 4:00 am.
Eyewitnesses claim that after Paul died, RRS officers who brought him to the hospital fled the scene.
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How Paul Obukowho died in custody
The source said, “Prosper Odili was actually walking in company of a friend on Wednesday morning around 8am when men of the RRS, former SARS from police headquarters in Asaba, along the Redeemed road, Okpanam accosted and arrested them unjustly without committing any crime. The police then took the two men back to their houses for a search and after the search, nothing incriminating was found and at that point the police released one of the boys and took Prosper away and put him in the cell at the police headquarters.
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“And that very day at about 5pm, the deceased Paul Obukowho went to the RRS office at the state Police command to find out what happened to warrant the arrest of his friend, Prosper and possibly find a way to bail him.
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“But shockingly, as Paul got there, he was detained, handcuffed on both hands and legs and was thrown into the cell with severe torture. On Thursday night, Paul collapsed in the cell and was rushed to the police clinic, resulting from the wounds from the torture, the clinic could not handle his situation, he was referred to Specialist Hospital Asaba.
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“Finally, he was referred to the Federal Medical Center, FMC Asaba, but, unfortunately for Paul, he couldn’t survive the pains and wounds from the police torture in the cell, he died. Paul died in the early hours of Saturday, at about 4:00am at the FMC, Asaba. And immediately, Paul died the men of the RRS who brought him to the hospital took to their heels and ran away from the hospital premises.”
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Calls for justice
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At the time of filing this report, Paul’s body remains at the FMC Asaba, with his relatives and friends demanding justice. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
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