By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Murder suspects awaiting arraignment at the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu in Anambra State have allegedly killed an inmate, Mr Chidubem Ezenwa, while in police custody.

News Express reports that people from Aguleri, Anambra East Local Govt Area (mostly women) had few days ago embarked on a protest demanding to know the whereabouts of one of their own after he was arrested in company of his friends.

The 24 years old Ezenwa, trading in Asaba, Delta State, had been arrested by the police in Aguleri alongside five of his friends for alleged violence, and later transferred to RRS, Awkuzu, before he was beaten by fellow inmates in police detention.

According to his friend, Chukwunonso Udezue, who survived the experience in detention and was later released, “My friend, Chidubem came home from Asaba where he runs his business, to see our mutual friend, Chiboy, who had accident.

“We visited him in the hospital and made payment for him to be transferred to another hospital, but he later died.

“While he was being taken to the mortuary, we his friends, including Chidubem were advised to leave the hospital, to avoid trauma. We went to Angel Hotel, feeling very bad, and in the process, one of our friends said that Chiboy would have been here with us, if not for death. In the process, he smashed a bottle in anger.

“The President General of Aguleri community who was in the hotel, involved the police. But before the police came, we had already paid for the bottle and apologized, and Chidubem too had left, to go to Asaba.

“Police came and arrested us, and when we called Chidubem and told him about the arrest, he now came back to enquire why, saying that he had already paid for the bottle.

“On sighting him, the police operatives held him and started beating him. He was kicked in the chest many times by the DPO of Otuocha Police Station. We were later transferred to SARS (RRS), Awkuzu.

“That was where some inmates beat us up. Chidubem later gave them N4,000 to stop them from beating us. Because of the chest injuries, Chidubem started feeling ill later at night, and wanted to pass out. He demanded for water and there was no water. He snatched one from one inmate, and they started beating him and he passed out, and was taken out of the cell to hospital. That is the much we know.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said those suspected to have been involved in beating up the deceased were murder suspects, who were awaiting arraignment as at the time of the incident.

While saying that the suspects have been arraigned in court, he added: “The matter is no longer before us. This happened before the coming of this new CP. The suspects have been arraigned.”

Ikenga however did not disclose why Chidubem’s corpse was yet to be released to the parents of the deceased for burial.

Update news