The family of Kenneth Ike Ayogu, 29, a patent medicine salesman in Narayi, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, is voicing concerns to NDLEA officials regarding their son’s passing while in their care. They claim that when he was taken into custody on October 13, 2022 for having pentazocine injection, he was tortured to death within their cell.
The family’s spokesman, Michael Ayogu, 50, a wine dealer also in Kaduna state, bemoaned the fact that despite his brother’s death occurring while in their care, all efforts the family has made to have an autopsy performed have been thwarted by both the police and NDLEA, further adding to their grief.
The wine merchant from Amahor-Uwenu, Okpuje in Nsukka LGA of Enugu state described the heinous incident that caused his brother’s premature death to reporters in Lagos. He said the dead was in his shop when he was detained by NDLEA agents on October 13, 2022 for having pentazocine injection.
He claims that on October 17, 2022, when we learned of his arrest, we went to find out the details, only to be informed that he passed away in their care on October 16, 2022, and that his body was placed in the mortuary by men of the NDLEA without even getting in touch with any members of the family.
The wine merchant from Amahor-Uwenu, Okpuje in Nsukka LGA of Enugu state described the heinous incident that caused his brother’s premature death to reporters in Lagos. He said the dead was in his shop when he was detained by NDLEA agents on October 13, 2022 for having pentazocine injection.
He claims that on October 17, 2022, when we learned of his arrest, we went to find out the details, only to be informed that he passed away in their care on October 16, 2022, and that his body was placed in the mortuary by men of the NDLEA without even getting in touch with any members of the family.
We petitioned NDLEA about the matter as well, but they chose to ignore us in favor of burying our son’s dead body after he completed his apprenticeship four years ago and began operating a legitimate business.
“NDLEA was invited to a meeting with the police officer in charge of the homicide division, but they did not show up. We then met the pathologist in charge of the autopsy section, who told us that he couldn’t do anything until the corona form was completed and that the magistrate couldn’t sign it unless the corona form had a picture of the dead body attached, even though we didn’t have access to the corpse. So, after losing the family’s breadwinner in such a horrific way, we are at a loss for what to do or where to turn next.
“He is the eldest son out of seven, and he was the only one caring for his elderly parents and other family members. Just watch how his life was taken from him without a trial. He bemoaned in tears, “What happens to all his dependents.
He wasn’t tortured by us, NDLEA
The late Kenneth was detained together with his brother and neighbor for narcotics offenses, according to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi. Up until his illness, they were all housed in the same cell. He was quickly sent to the hospital, where he passed away.
In all the meetings between the family and the state command of the agency with the brother in attendance, the issue of torture was never brought up. If he had been tortured by anyone, his brother and neighbor who were with him in the cell until the day he was taken to the hospital for treatment would have known about it.
The procedure for that has been underway with correspondences between the family and the agency on the modalities for the autopsy. “The family requested that an autopsy be conducted to determine the cause of death. Therefore, there could be no reason for the corpse to not be released.
