LUCKY LAWAL

The Network On Police Reform in Nigeria has called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to look into the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of Michael Adikwu, the offa armed robbery prime suspect in the Nigeria Police Force custody.

According to the NOPRIN National Coordinator, Okechukwu Nwanguma, in his recent report which stated that the widely expressed fears about the fate of Adikwu, the prime suspect in the Offa robbery, has finally been confirmed by the police who eventually said he died in custody. He posited that there is need to inquire into the circumstances surrounding Adikwu’s mysterious death.
Suspicion arose when police arraigned other suspects without Adikwu whom others suspects said in their statements to the police, not only masterminded the robbery but was also in possession of the proceeds of the robbery which saw several banks freely robbed for hours, a police station attacked with scores of people including police officers killed and huge sums of money robbed and police arms carted away.
The police had all along remained silent to questions about the whereabouts of Adikwu, with many outrightly accusing the police of murdering the prime suspect with a view to converting the proceeds of crime, including cash which ought to be exhibits during the trial.
Now that the police have eventually admitted that Adikwu is dead and considering the widespread suspicion that the police may have murdered him, NOPRIN calls on the President who is the operational head of the police to order an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Adikwu’s suspicious death in police custody. The police should also be made to account fully for the cash and other exhibits recovered from the deceased.