A 25-year-old farmer, Peter Igbang, has died in police custody in Ogun State after his arrest over an alleged plantain theft, leaving his family demanding answers about how he died and why they were not informed of his detention before the tragedy.
Igbang, from Ipara in Remo North Local Government Area, was arrested on Saturday, October 17. His relatives learnt of his death on Tuesday, October 20, after police reportedly told them that he had hanged himself inside a cell using his clothing.
The family has questioned the account, citing concerns about the conditions of his detention, the presence of objects he could allegedly have used to reach a window, and the delay in notifying his relatives.
His mother, Gift Joseph, said she knew nothing about the arrest until after her only son had died.
“My son had gone to the farm and was arrested on the road while returning,” she said.
She questioned why her son was reportedly left fully clothed inside the cell and how he could have used his clothing to hang himself.
“I have no other son; he is my only son. I want the authorities to hear my questions and listen to what I have to say so that I can receive answers and have some peace of mind,” she added.
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Joseph said Peter had trained as a mechanic but turned to farming because the family could not afford to establish a workshop for him. He cultivated cassava and plantain on a six-acre farm.
His elder sister, Juliet, also challenged the police explanation after visiting the station with their mother on Wednesday, October 21.
She recalled that an officer greeted them with the words, “I’m sorry for your loss,” before informing them that Peter had hanged himself.
Juliet said a photograph shown to her depicted her brother wearing trousers, prompting her to question whether officers had taken adequate precautions to prevent a detainee from harming himself.
She also asked how Peter could have reached a small window positioned high inside the cell. Officers reportedly told her that he had used a bucket and that the item was usually kept in a bathroom beside the cell.
A local woman who reportedly visited Peter during his detention told the family that he had complained of hunger and a lack of drinking water or food since his arrest. This account has not been independently verified.
Community questions police account
Fidelis, a former chairman of Ogoja community in Ipara, said police contacted him only after Peter’s death. He recalled seeing the body inside the cell with a rope around the neck.
The current community chairman, identified as Mr Joseph, questioned the circumstances of the detention and the failure to inform the family promptly.
Another resident, Monday Philip, said he had approached the complainant to plead for leniency. According to him, the complainant wanted Peter to spend a month learning a lesson before returning home.
Investigation needed to establish facts
The case raises questions about the treatment of detainees, access to food and water, police supervision and the obligation to notify relatives when someone is taken into custody.
Section 35 of Nigeria’s Constitution protects personal liberty and sets limits on detention without trial. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 also provides safeguards for suspects, although the applicable statutory framework depends on the jurisdiction and circumstances.
The law does not require every suspect to be released automatically after 24 hours. However, constitutional provisions stipulate when a detained person must be brought before a court, subject to the circumstances and applicable time limits.
The available account does not establish the precise cause or manner of Peter’s death. The police explanation and the family’s objections therefore require independent scrutiny.
A thorough investigation should establish when Peter died, who supervised the cell, what precautions were taken to protect him, the circumstances of his arrest and why his relatives were not notified earlier.
The findings should be made public, and any officer found to have breached the law or neglected a duty should face the appropriate disciplinary or legal process.
Peter’s death has left a grieving mother seeking answers about her only son. Establishing what happened inside the cell is essential not only for the family but also for public confidence in the police’s responsibility to protect people in their custody.
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