Photo: Enugu Police Commission, Mr Kanayo Ezuegbu
The Enugu State Police Command and the relatives of Nnaemeka Ugwu, a patent medicine dealer, are bickering over his death at the Nsukka Area Command while attempting to secure the release of his wife.
Their disagreement arose over the cause of his death, with family members alleging foul play, while the police insisted he was not tortured.
Relatives of the deceased, who hailed from Umuezejor, Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area, shared a viral video claiming that Nnaemeka was harassed, detained, and tortured by police officers when he visited the Nsukka Area Command to arrange for his wife’s release. According to the family, this treatment led to his death.
The police, however, have strongly denied these allegations. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the police explained that Nnaemeka collapsed at the command and was immediately rushed to a hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.
Police spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, described the claims of torture as misleading, calling them an attempt to deceive the public.
Ndukwe provided a detailed account of the events, stating that Nnaemeka was not arrested, harassed, or tortured by police officers.
The police had been investigating a robbery case, which led to the arrest of several individuals, including Nnaemeka’s wife, Ngozi Ugwu. Ndukwe also emphasized that, contrary to viral rumors, Nnaemeka did not die in police custody but collapsed during his visit to the police headquarters on February 7, 2025.
The commissioner of police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has expressed sympathy to the family and has ordered an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Nnaemeka’s collapse and subsequent death.
As the disagreement over the cause of death continues, the police have urged the community to cooperate with law enforcement, maintain peace, and follow appropriate channels for addressing grievances.
