Nigerian Police have denied killing of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Jumbo Ogah.
Force PRO, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Frank Mba, said contrary to reports, the deceased slumped and died during preliminary interrogation at a Nyanya Police Station at about 9am on Wednesday.
According to Mba, the deceased violated traffic rules and was arrested by two Traffic Warden along Nyanya Highway in Abuja.
“He was arrested and he drove himself to the police station with immediate members of his family who were with him at the time of arrest and a Traffic Warden in his own car. Traffic Wardens are not conventional Police Personnel that is why they wear yellow top for easy identification.
” He slumped and was later confirmed dead during interrogation at the police station and his body is presently deposited at the morgue of Maitama District Hospital for autopsy.
The deceased was not wearing any uniform aside the Civil Defence trouser which made it difficult for the Wardens to identify him at the time of arrest.
“During autopsy, a member of his family and a representative of his organisation will be permitted to be present,” he explained.
He added that the family is free to bring a medical doctor to witness the process.
Mba said FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma personally observed the body and there was no traces of physical assault on the deceased.
However, he said the Traffic Wardens who arrested the deceased are presently in detention.
“It is usually unfortunate when any life is lost, it doesn’t matter the circumstances surrounding the loss of life, therefore, my explanation here should not be seen as an excuse, justification or a validation of the unfortunate incident. It should be seen as clarification and a sincere attempt to at providing the facts as I was given.
“The facts as I was given indicate that the incident happened yesterday, about 9 am. The deceased who was later identified as a member of NSCDC was said to be driving along with members of his family precisely his wife. He was said to have disobeyed traffic regulations and accosted by two traffic wardens who are not conventional policemen.
“He was taken to Nyanya police station where he was asked preliminary questions when he slumped and died when he was rushed to hospital.
“He was not on full uniform, he was wearing only a trouser of the uniform which when seated in the vehicle makes it difficult to identify as a uniform personnel.
“My personnel interaction with CP FCT reveals there was no sign of physical assault on the deceased.
“However, the two traffic wardens involved are in detention pending autopsy to determine the cause of death,” he said.
