Elelenwo Police Station: "Bail is free" insistence sends man to early grave

By Bartholomew Madukwe

Azeezat Jimoh, wife of Abiodun, whose husband was allegedly killed by police sergeant attached to Elelewon Police Divisional headquarters at Obio-Akpor LGA of Rivers State, has called on well meaning Nigerians to ensure justice is done on the matter.

The deceased, Abiodun, a staff of Onne based Intels, shortly after the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into perceived police atrocities in Rivers state opened hearing of petitions, was said to have been stopped by police officers on  patrol, Friday 18 December, 2020, while he was with his brother, Ismail Jimoh, on a motorbike returning home.

It was gathered that after a search was conducted and nothing incriminating found with the Kwara State indigenes, but their ID cards, iPhone and other handsets, the police patrol team took the duo to Elelenwo Police station.

According to Azeezat, upon arrival, the trigger-happy cop (name yet to be known), demanded money for their bail and the deceased's brother pleaded with the officer that they had only N1,500 left.

She explained that despite police authorities saying ‘bail is free’, the police sergeant insisted that bail money must be provided.

She narrates: "Mr Ismail said he rode on the motorbike and stayed in front, while his brother was inside the Police patrol van as they headed to the station.

"When they reached the station, one of the Police officers asked them to bail themselves.

"Ismail said his brother pleaded with the officer that they had only N1,500 left.

"According to Ismail, other Police officers told the officer who shot his brother to let them go, since nothing incriminating was found on them but the officer refused.

"Ismail said as the police sergeant began to beat his brother in front of the Police station, he heard two gunshots.

"When he turned back, his brother was lying on the floor, in pains.

"According to Ismail, he and the other Police Officers took his brother to three different hospitals, but they declined attending to him.

"On their way to University of Port Harcourt Hospital,UPTH, the officers drove so recklessly that he fell out from the back of the patrol van. He was seriously injured.

"He said the Police officers did not wait to check on him, they just drove off with his brother."

Wife of the deceased noted that it was in the morning of 19 December, when she went to the Elelewon station with Ismail that they learned her husband is dead.