By Emma Amaize

ASABA—The Inspector General of Police has been called upon to unravel the alleged torturing of a 41-year-old mechanic, Samson Efe, to death by officers of the Anti-Kidnap Section, Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Delta Police Command, Asaba.

Solicitor to late Efe’s family, Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, dated December 13, said the deceased, a father of three, who left behind a pregnant widow, was arrested on November 12 at Sapele and by November 21, when a member of the family asked to bring N150,000 for his bail returned, he was dead.

Samson Efe

Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, DSP Awele Aniamaka, who reacted swiftly to the allegation, said: “The suspect was not tortured; no foul play suspected and autopsy report reveals that he died from cardiac arrest.”

Ikimi, in his petition, said the victim was severely beaten and tortured by policemen and detectives of the anti-kidnap section, who took him to Asaba and continued the torture until he died.

He said the victim was not released to the family as the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, who refused to disclose his name and rank, allegedly demanded N150, 000 as bail for the victim.

He said: “Chief Lucky Oseahweke, our client, was later allowed to see the victim. He complained that the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, and team had consistently tortured him on a daily basis since he was brought to the State CID, Asaba.

“Our client, thereafter, pleaded with the IPO to prevail on his team not to further torture the victim as he was going to get the bail money and would get back to him before Friday, November 18.

“When our client returned on Monday, November 21, for the bail of the victim, he was told by the said IPO that the victim had died and his corpse deposited in the mortuary.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that we are calling on your office to order an impartial and an independent investigation into the torture and murder of Samson Efe, our client, Chief Oseahweke’s son.”