By Oluwatosin Maliki
The Ogun State Police command has refuted claims of allegedly torturing a suspected cultist identified as Seyi Samson, to death.
Quest Times gathered that the suspect was nabbed by the Ogun State Police Command, over alleged involvement in cult-related activities and has been in police custody ever since.
Following this incident, it was reportedly said that the 39-year-old man was brutally tortured by the police while in custody. However, the police absolved itself, saying that there is no iota of truth in the allegation.
According to the Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, the Ogun State Police Command is strongly committed to upholding fundamental human rights of citizens, particularly when it comes to the treatment of suspects.
A statement which was released on Sunday by the PPRO, stated that the torture is strictly against the practice, protocols and principles guiding the operations of the police.
The statement read, “Ogun state police command is well versed in the legal framework that safeguards the rights of individuals in custody, free from all forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment”.
“For the records, the deceased was already charged for cult-related activities and he was taken to court on Thursday, 23rd November 2023 where he was to be arraigned before a special Court on a cultism case in Isabo Abeokuta, but the honourable court did not sit, and he was brought back to Eleweran in Abeokuta the same Thursday.”
Meanwhile, She explained that the suspect was supposed to stand trial in court on Friday, November 24, before his demise.
“On Friday, 24th November, at about 0500 hours, Seyi went berserk, shouting, biting with teeth, and assaulted other suspects in the cell until he got exhausted”.
“Other suspects in the cell alerted policemen on duty, and he was allegedly taken to the police hospital and later to Ijaye General Hospital Abeokuta, along with other suspects he gave bites in the cell for medical treatment against infection. Other suspects were treated and discharged, but Seyi, while on medical attention, later gave up the ghost. Every other allegation is hereby debunked.”
Recently, Ogun State has witnessed a lot of blood shed as a result of several cult clash among groups. Just few weeks ago, five rival cultists were killed in the Sagamu area of the state in clashes.