The Tragic Death of Wisdoma Okorie Akobundu and the Aftermath
The death of a young man, identified as Wisdoma Okorie Akobundu, has sparked widespread unrest in Bende town, located in the Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. The incident occurred during an interrogation at the Bende Divisional Police headquarters on Friday night, leading to the arrest of three police officers who are now under investigation.
According to reports, the deceased, who hailed from Ozuitem but was a resident of Bende, was invited by the police for questioning over undisclosed allegations. Tragically, he died while in custody, allegedly due to brutal treatment by police officers attached to the Bende Division. The situation escalated into tension, with local youths and women taking to the streets to protest, threatening to burn down the police station located near the LGA headquarters.
Community Reactions and Protests
A community source, who spoke with reporters but requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with the media, revealed that the deceased willingly went to the police station for questioning. However, information soon surfaced that he had died under interrogation on Friday night. Described as “a quiet and good man,” his death led to significant unrest in the community.
Following the tension, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, visited the scene to calm the situation. Isa assured the protesting youths that a proper investigation would be conducted, including an autopsy to determine the cause of death. He emphasized that justice would be done and confirmed that all the policemen involved in the interrogation had been moved to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning.
“I want to assure you that justice will be done. As I am talking to you, all the policemen involved in the interrogation have been moved to the CID for questioning. I want to plead with you, since I came to this state, I have never covered any policeman who has done the wrong thing. I have arrested some of them, charged some in court, and some are in prison today. Because of that, I decided to personally come to talk to you to reassure you that, as my responsibility, in my honour, justice will be done for you. As I talk to you, all the policemen involved in the interrogation (of the deceased) are under arrest. Justice must be done,” Isa stated.
Conflicting Accounts and Family Statements
A police source who preferred to remain anonymous told reporters that the deceased was not beaten as alleged, but rather collapsed when he was informed he would be detained in the station. However, sources and videos seen online indicated that the area resembled a war front, with the police squad sent to protect the station firing bullets in all directions to scare away the protesters. The suspected police officers were reportedly whisked away for safety.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased expressed their sadness over the “cruel” death of their sibling. In a statement by his elder brother, Festus Okorie, the family denied the police’s account, stating, “Let it be known: the story being circulated by the police is false. My brother had never been involved in any police case or admitted to any hospital before this tragedy.”
Festus added, “I speak with deep pain and anger over the cruel and conspiratorial death of my brother in police custody. Evans Onyeka, a police officer, invited my brother to the Bende Police Station, and he went there alive, strong, and without trouble. Hours later, we were told he was dead. I was called and told my brother was in police custody, but before I got there, they had already taken him to the hospital without any notice to me or any member of our family.”
Official Responses and Calls for Justice
Reacting to the incident, the Executive Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Hon. Uwabunkonye Bassey, expressed his deep sadness, stating, “According to preliminary reports, the late Mr Wisdom Okorie was accused of an offence and invited for questioning. Sadly, during the interrogation, he reportedly slumped and, despite being rushed to a hospital, was confirmed dead.”
The protesting youths lamented that the Nigeria Police Force, Bende Division, had taken the law into its hands by allegedly brutally “beating and killing our son, Okorie Akobundu Wisdom.” They described Okorie as a quiet young man who had never displayed any questionable character, let alone fought with anyone in the town. They also criticized the police for what they described as sexual harassment, illegal arrests, molestation, embarrassment, and humiliation.
The Commissioner’s Denial and Continued Investigation
In response to the allegations, the Commissioner of Police denied the torture claim, stating, “There was nothing like torture, according to an eyewitness account. It was a reported case of stealing of iron rods. Three suspects were arrested and were being interrogated at the station. One of them tried to escape. He was pursued and arrested, collapsed, rushed to the hospital and died. Three policemen and the other two suspects were personally taken to the CID and are presently undergoing interrogation. Two of my escort vehicles were stoned, damaged, and one of my personnel was injured. The police are on top of the situation.”
The situation remains under close scrutiny, with calls for transparency and accountability from both the public and officials. The outcome of the ongoing investigations will be critical in determining the truth behind the tragic death of Wisdoma Okorie Akobundu and ensuring justice for his family and the community.
