The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, made an unscheduled visit to Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday and directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to immediately take over the investigation into the death of Jimoh Abdulqaudri, who reportedly died in police detention on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Jimoh, who had been arrested over a debt of N220,000 owed to his employer, Mr. Peter, was allegedly tortured to death by some police officers at the Kwara State Command. The police initially informed the family that he had hung himself in the cell.
While addressing Balogun Fulani, the traditional ruler of the community, IGP Egbetokun urged the people, particularly the youth, not to take the law into their own hands. He assured the community that a thorough investigation would be conducted and that justice would be served.
“I have directed the Commissioner of Police to investigate this matter thoroughly. We will get to the root of this incident and make the findings public,” Egbetokun said. “I ask for calm and caution, as we await the outcome of the investigation. I am already forming my opinion, but I will not conclude until the investigation is complete.”
The IGP also stated that “very competent detectives” had taken over the investigation, expressing confidence that the truth about Jimoh’s death would be revealed.
In his comments, IGP Egbetokun assured the deceased’s family of the police’s support, saying, “We will support the family in any way we can. If there is anything we can do to ease their pain during this difficult time, they should reach out to us.”
Various community leaders, including Balogun Fulani, youth representatives, and the Ilorin Descendants Union, demanded justice for Jimoh’s death.
Jimoh’s family, including his elder brother Ismail and his mother, Mrs. Adijat Moriyike, told the IGP that the deceased had been tortured by the police. They claimed that police operatives had beaten him with a hard object, causing his nose to bleed, and later falsely reported that he had committed suicide.
“My brother was arrested over a debt of N220,000, and we were in the process of settling it,” his elder brother explained. “He was arrested with his phone and N350,000. We were called around midnight on December 20 to bail him, but when we arrived at the police headquarters, we were told he had been taken to the hospital. At the General Hospital mortuary, we saw his body covered in blood. They claimed he hanged himself, but my brother was tall and couldn’t have done that in the cell.”
