A 32-year-old man, Ahmed Jibril, has died in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Kaduna.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the anti-narcotics operatives arrested on the late Ahmed, aka Daddy, his brother and friend at their Katuru by Raba Road residence on Thursday last week for alleged drug use.
A family source who craved anonymity told our reporter that the operatives demanded N150,000 bail bond, but the family offered to give N100,000.
“While the negotiation for their release was ongoing, Daddy developed complications in his detention cell and was taken to the hospital under the NDLEA custody,” said a family source familiar with the case.
“He died on Tuesday in the hospital. We are suspecting that they maltreated him in the cell, because he was hale and hearty when he was arrested.”
The family of the deceased had earlier rejected the corpse and vowed to seek redress in court, but were later persuaded to accept it.
The remains of the deceased were accepted on Wednesday and buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
When contacted for comment on the matter, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, however said Mr Jibril was not tortured by their operatives.
“First, the NDLEA does not torture suspects. In fact the issue of torture should not have arisen due to the fact that the suspects were arrested with exhibits,” Mr Babafemi explained.
“Secondly, the trio was arrested together and detained in a cell, and none of them developed a health issue except the deceased, who had an underlying health complication,” Mr Babafemi said.
On the issue of alleged N150,000 demand for the bail of the suspect, Mr Babafemi said bail is normally approved at the agency’s headquarters not at the command level.
“Bail is decided free of charge at the headquarters, not at the command. Commander has no right to release a suspect. So the issue of demanding money for bail by the command operatives does not add up,” he added.
