The family of a 40-year-old man, Taofeek Azeez, has called for a thorough investigation into his death while in police custody in Agbeye, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State.
Azeez was reportedly arrested by community vigilantes over an allegation of stealing cocoa seeds before being handed over to the police on Wednesday.
According to reports, he was initially taken to the palace of the Alagbeye of Agbeye, where his brother, Fatai Alimi, alleged that he was subjected to corporal punishment and stripped naked before being transferred to a police outpost.
The family expressed doubts over the circumstances surrounding his death after the police reportedly said he had taken his own life in the cell a few hours after his detention.
Speaking to journalists, Alimi appealed to the Osun State Commissioner of Police and the state government to ensure that the incident was thoroughly investigated and that justice was served.
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He disclosed that Azeez was a father of six children and had left behind an aged mother.
Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the deceased had been detained after being handed over by community members on the instruction of the traditional ruler.
Ojelabi stated that an officer discovered Azeez dead when he went to check on him in the cell a few hours later. He added that the officer responsible for the detention facility would be questioned as part of the investigation.
Although the police said preliminary findings indicated suicide, the family continues to seek answers regarding the circumstances of Azeez’s death.
The investigation is expected to establish what happened while he was in custody and determine whether any individual or institution bears responsibility.
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