Crime
Enugu man allegedly tortured to death by Police, family seeks justice
The family of Kingsley Agwuna has demanded a comprehensive investigation and prosecution of some policemen attached to the Unity police station, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu State over the death of their son.
They also urged the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the case, claiming Kingsley died under mysterious circumstances.
The family accused the police of brutality, torture, wrongful arrest, and other human rights violations.
The deceased was said to have been arrested on 5th of September 2024 at a popular bar located at Nkwo Nike by the policemen led by one DSP Christian Uche Okeke.
According to the family, he was illegally arrested and was not given a chance to defend himself from the allegation.
While narrating how Kingsley was allegedly killed in a petition to the human rights commission, a brother of the deceased, Ernest C. Agwuna said, “I, Mr Ernest C. Agwuna, a citizen of Nigeria residing at 3 Monastery Road, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu East LGA, Enugu State, hereby write this petition with great pain and distress to bring to your esteemed office’s attention the extreme acts of police brutality, torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment that culminated in the gruesome murder of my beloved brother, Mr Kingsley Agwuna.
“The officers involved were D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi, who were attached to Unity Police Station, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu State.
“Details of the Incident: On the 5th of September 2024, Mr Kingsley Agwuna was arrested at a popular bar located at Nkwo Nike when police officers, led by D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke, arrived to arrest some produce revenue collectors who have their posts situated around Nkwo Nike. However, they decided to embark on a random arrest. In the process, Mr Kingsley Agwuna, a tricycle driver (Keke driver) and not a member of the produce revenue collectors, was wrongfully arrested and taken to the police station that same night.
“The following morning, on the 6th of September 2024, he was charged and arraigned in court, where he was granted bail. Unfortunately, none of his family members had been contacted before he was charged, so none were present to post bail. Consequently, the court ordered that he be remanded in prison pending his family’s arrangement for his bail.
“Upon arrival at the prison, the warders observed bruises all over his body, which left him unable to stand independently. Due to his condition, the prison warders refused to accept him from the police officers and alerted the Officer in Charge, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire. Under his instruction, the police officers, D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke and Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi, were asked to write and sign an indemnity on the back of the charge sheet, stating the condition in which they brought him, which they did as requested.
“To our greatest shock, a friend of Mr Kingsley Agwuna, Mr Nwackukwu, was contacted on Monday, the 9th of September 2024, through a phone call informing him that Mr Kingsley Agwuna had passed away. This was later confirmed by Mr Nwackukwu on the 10th of September 2024. After that, Mr Nwachukwu inquired about the police station and the Investigating Police Officer (I.P.O) in charge of the case.
“The Officer in Charge of the prison told Mr Nwachukwu that Unity Police Division at Ibagwa Nike handled the case and that the (I.P.O) in-charge was Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi. The phone number of Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi was then handed over to Mr Nwachukwu for more Inquiries Since he is the Investigating Police Officer (I.P.O) of the Case.
“When Mr Nwachukwu contacted Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi to verify the information, Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi vehemently denied any knowledge of the case, claiming he was only instructed to take Mr Kingsley Agwuna to prison after the arraignment in court. However, it was later discovered that Inspector Romanus Ugwuanyi not only works at Unity Police Division, but was also the Investigating Police Officer (I.P.O) in charge of the case.
“I Mr Ernest Agwuna was later contacted on phone on the 10th Sept.2024, So I have to Start Coming down to Enugu to find out what really happened to my Brother Mr Kingsley Agwuna, upon arrival I went Straight to Unity Police Station where I met with the D.C.O, in person of D.S.P Christian Uche Okeke whom I tried all my best to get some Vital Information about what transpired between him and my Brother, Mr Kingsley Agwuna but he also denied Vehemently that he knew nothing about the incident.
“So I went from there to the Prison Yard where I met with the Officer in-charge in person of Compt. Sunday Oyakhire who told me that he only can tell me what happened from the time when Mr Kingsley Agwuna was Brought to the Prison. And he narrated the same as what he told Mr Nwachukwu which I have written above but at this point in time, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire told me that When he stepped down from his office to the Prison Entrance Gate he met my Brother Mr Kingsley Agwuna where he way layed on the floor at the same Prison Entrance and he, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire personally asked Mr Kingsley Agwuna what happened to Him.
“Mr Kingsley Agwuna told him that the police used a 2-by-2 Wood log to beat him while hitting him on his lungs and that it was even hard before he was able to mutter those words because he was seriously wonded. He, Compt. Sunday Oyakhire also mentioned to me that My Brother Mr Kinsley Agwuna was with a plaster at the back of his head where he has a sharp deep cut.
“Human Rights Violations: The conduct of the officers involved constitutes clear violations of Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees every individual the right to respect for their dignity and freedom from torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
“The Anti-Torture Act of 2017, which prohibits all forms of torture and inhumane treatment.
“International conventions such as the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT), which Nigeria has ratified.
“Demands: In light of these egregious violations and the irreparable harm caused to my family, I respectfully demand the following actions from the National Human Rights Commission:
“An immediate and Thorough Investigation: I request an independent and transparent investigation into the conduct of the police officers involved in the arrest, torture, and murder of my brother, Mr Kingsley Agwuna.
“Prosecution of the Officers Involved: The officers responsible for these heinous acts must be brought to justice through appropriate legal action.”
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command denied the allegation of torturing Kingsley to death.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe insisted that the deceased did not die in police custody nor was he arrested by officers from the mentioned station.
“There’s no such report of wrongful arrest, torture and death of anyone at the mentioned station please,” he told SaharaReporters.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
A total of eight suspected fake Pastors were on Friday arraigned before the Awka High Court in Anambra state.
Recall that Governor Charles Soludo had at a church service in Awka announced that some suspected fake Pastors are already under the custody of the state government for activities that are unbecoming of their roles as servants in God’s Vineyard.
Recall also that at the peak of the clampdown on fake Native Doctors, the affected Native Doctors protested that the Anambra state government has been neck deep in selective justice contending that the fake Pastors obtain their powers from Native Doctors.
They queried why their colleagues are being arrested while their clients who are Pastors are left to walk the streets freely.
It was against this backdrop that the Anambra state government beamed it’s searchlight on the activities of some Pastors which led to the arraignment of eight suspected fake Pastors.
It was gathered that the alleged fake pastors violated the 2025 Homeland Security law established by the administration of Prof Charles Soludo.
The Senior Special Assistant to Soludo on New Media Sir Ejimofor Opara who confirmed the development said the Homeland security law was passed in February 2025 and it frowns at certain forms of religious practices that are deemed inimical to the public, especially as it pertains to creation of illegal wealth.
Last year, some native doctors who were promoting get-rich-quick practices (Okeite rituals) were also arrested and prosecuted accordingly with some of them serving jail terms while othere are currently undergoing trial.ls.
The names of those arraigned before the High Court include; Peter Chukwu, Chinedu Egwuonwu, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, Ebele Nnachukwu and Ekeleme Chris Ugochukwu.
Others are Ndubisi Nnachukwu,
Miracle Iruoma and Chukwukadibia Ogwuama.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, is leading the prosecution.
The Muslim community in Oyo State has condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists holding teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that the criminals do not represent Islam or Muslims.
The position came as public and private schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas shut down in solidarity with the abducted victims.
Also, security analysts in separate interviews, offered differing views on how the Federal Government could respond to the terrorists’ demands.
The abductors, who attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, reportedly demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law before freeing the captives.
In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanvni, and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the Muslim community in Oyo State described the terrorists’ action as criminal and contrary to Islamic teachings.
The group said attempts by the abductors to justify their actions through religious rhetoric amounted to a distortion of Islam.
“Islam forbids kidnapping, terrorism and the extortion of innocent citizens. Legitimate Sharia promotes justice, peace and the sanctity of human life, values that stand in direct opposition to the activities of criminal groups,” the statement said.
The organisation added that terrorists could not claim to speak on behalf of Muslims.
“Terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims,” it stated.
Quoting Chapter 5 Verse 32 of the Holy Qur’an, the community stressed that Islam places a high premium on the protection of human life and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those in captivity.
The development came amid growing concerns over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils.
A traditional ruler in one of the affected communities, the Eleshi of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, appealed to the government to secure the release of the victims.
“We are aware of the ransom demands of the terrorists, but we are helpless. We are looking up to the government and pleading for intervention,” he said.
Schools shut in 33LGAs
Findings by revealed that the management of private schools issued a statement on Wednesday directing all schools to shut down from Friday, June 5.
One of the internal memos obtained by our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday read, “Due to the situation at hand and the ongoing protest in the state, all pupils and students should stay at home until further notice. No school for now until further notice.”
Also, a message circulated to private schools by the Ibadan District Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Joshua Olaoluwa, and obtained by Saturday PUNCH, read, “Good day, all school owners/administrators. Due to the recent kidnapping of teachers and students in Oriire LGA and rising security concerns, all NAPPS member schools in Ibadan District will be closed on Friday, June 5, 2026, as a mark of solidarity and for prayers for the victims’ safe release and the protection of all schools.
“If anyone tries to disrupt school activities before or after Friday, please record a video if it is safe to do so, report to the nearest police station, and inform your NAPPS LGA coordinator and the district office immediately.”
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Fatai Hassan, had earlier disclosed that all public secondary and primary schools would remain closed until the abductees are rescued alive.
Speaking in Ibadan, the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association of one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, said, “We had already held a meeting over the closure of the school. You know this is more or less a remote area. It is not that remote, but we cannot compare schools in this environment with those around the Agbowo-UI, Bodija, Sango or Mokola axis.
“But we had to consider those students writing their terminal examinations. Otherwise, we would have joined the public protest since Monday. We eventually shut down the school on Wednesday,” the source said.
It was gathered that the bandits entered the community at about 1am, shooting sporadically to scare residents. They reportedly destroyed two houses before picking up the victim and whisking him away to an unknown destination. The boy, identified as Oluwatobi, is said to be the son of a pastor in the community, Isaac Olaosebikan.
A source said that, on hearing the sporadic gunshots, residents of the community fled their homes and ran to neighbouring communities for safety.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi, who confirmed the incident in a WhatsApp message, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
He said, “The Ondo State Police Command has commenced an intensive manhunt for suspected kidnappers who abducted a nine-year-old boy during a violent attack on residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun, in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
“The incident was reported in the early hours of Friday, 5th June 2026, at about 2:30 a.m. by Mr. Olaosebikan Isaac and Mr. Joel Owalekan, both residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun. According to their reports, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on the same day, a group of armed men invaded the community, firing gunshots sporadically and causing panic among residents.
He added that personnel of the command and the Amotekun Corps had been mobilised to the scene and had launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
“Security operatives combed the surrounding forests and likely escape routes in a bid to rescue the abducted child and apprehend the perpetrators,” the PPRO stated.
Jimoh also noted that investigations had commenced while relevant exhibits had been recovered and documented to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and track down those responsible.
“The State Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, has directed all tactical teams, intelligence units and other relevant security assets to intensify efforts toward the immediate rescue of the victim unhurt and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The Command is also working closely with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice.”
Ogunleye was arraigned on Wednesday alongside three other suspects before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The Ekiti State Police Command said the suspects were brought before the court after the conclusion of investigations into the matter.
The prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyimi, informed the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Oriyimi subsequently requested the court to remand the defendants pending further directives from the DPP.
Ruling on the application, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered that Ogunleye and the other defendants be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
Kano Times recalls that Ogunleye was declared missing on May 20 after her vehicle was reportedly found abandoned along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road.
Reports at the time indicated that she was allegedly abducted by suspected gunmen shortly after leaving the local government secretariat.
She was later found unharmed during a joint operation involving security agencies.
However, police investigations later alleged that the kidnapping was staged in a bid to raise money to offset financial obligations and outstanding political commitments.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the alleged act.
Dada described the incident as embarrassing and unacceptable, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in government officials and security agencies.
He further stated that no public office holder would be protected from prosecution if found culpable of any wrongdoing.
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested three suspects linked to alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, and drug trafficking in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, who reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain its crackdown on criminal activities through proactive policing and intelligence-driven operations.
According to the statement, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) on May 30, 2026, at about 7:30 p.m., stormed a drinking spot along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway following credible intelligence and arrested two suspected armed robbers and kidnappers identified as Ogbonna Chinonso, 22, and Nnachi Cypril, 35.
Items recovered from the suspects included a locally made revolver pistol, a locally made cut-to-size double-barrelled gun, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, and one live cartridge.
Enugu CP
In a separate operation conducted earlier the same day at about 4:30 p.m., VCRU operatives raided a suspected criminal hideout in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, where they arrested a suspected drug dealer, Izunna Ani, 36.
The police said large quantities of substances suspected to be “Loud” and “Kolos” were recovered from the suspect.
The Command noted that investigations into the cases are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations.
Commending the operatives for their professionalism and vigilance, CP Giwa reiterated the Command’s commitment to ridding Enugu State of violent crimes and other forms of criminality. He also urged residents to remain security-conscious and continue providing useful information to assist the police in combating crime.
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