Boy arrested by police dies in custody

A boy, Uchenna Okafor, arrested by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, has died in custody.

While a social justice campaigner said he was arrested for street fighting, the police said it was a case of armed robbery.

According to the social justice campaigner, after the arrest and dentition of Okafor at the once notorious Akwuzu Police Station, Anambra State for allegedly engaging in a fight with two others, their parents were alerted.

The campaigner said his parents were asked to bring N150,000 to secure his release.

However, by the time the parents got to the station on Thursday, they were informed Okafor had died.

Responding to the series of tweets, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said he had asked the spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, to look into it.

Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, tweeted: “I have asked the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command to look into the matter and revert please.”

Reacting, Ikenga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said in a statement: “While we are looking into the allegation, the information before me is not a case of two fighting as alleged but a case of armed robbery.

“The Twitter handler is expected to be in the command this morning with more facts.

“Also, the IPO handling the case is expected with his brief this morning.

“Thanks.”