Police silent on assault allegations, blame hypertension, drugs for man’s death in Delta

The Delta State Police Command on Wednesday failed to address the alleged assault and injuries inflicted on one Emeka Okediachi as it concluded its investigation into the cause of Okediachi’s death.

The Command claimed that its officers were not responsible for his death, relying on an autopsy report.
On November 14, 2024, Okediachi and his friends were stopped by men without uniforms at the Ogbe-Osowe quarters in Asaba, Delta State, but they didn’t stop out of fear that the men could be kidnappers.

It was alleged that the men then cornered the group and began shooting and beating them. Emeka’s girlfriend ran to her house, and people who wanted to help were unable to due to the shooting and the use of wood by the police on the group.
His brother, Desmond, said he didn’t know what happened until the next morning.

He said: “I saw him with a bandaged head, and when I asked him what happened, he told me that he was hit on the head with a gun by police officers. The officers, after doing this, took him to the hospital and got his head bandaged. They took his phone too.”

Following Okediachi’s death on November 14, 2024, it was alleged that the police were responsible for his demise. The Command stated on November 29, 2024, that the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, had ordered an immediate investigation with the assurance that if the policemen were found culpable, they would be punished.

The Spokesperson for the Command, Bright Edafe, said the CP, as promised, ensured that a discreet investigation was carried out, which necessitated the conduct of an autopsy.

Edafe said an autopsy was conducted on December 7, 2024, in the presence of some family members of the deceased and carried out by two pathologists, one of whom was brought by the family of the deceased.

“The Command wishes to inform members of the public that the autopsy report is finally out, and as promised, the Command wishes to share the outcome with the public.

“The cause of death, as revealed, was hypertensive heart disease—uncontrolled hypertension complicated by pharmacological agents, as indicated in the toxicology report, which includes a concentration of hard drugs such as tramadol, morphine, opium, diazepam, amitriptyline, and ethyl alcohol.

“It is on this note that the CP advises parents, wards, and particularly the youths to stay away from drug abuse, as it is evident in this case. Abusing hard drugs is dangerous to the heart and could lead to untimely death.”

While the police stated that Okediachi died from hypertension complications, it, however, failed to address the shootings, injuries sustained, and alleged beating by men of the Command. The Command equally did not reveal the names or ranks of the officers involved.