Following the arrest of three police officers on suspicion of killing 26-year-old suspect Abubakar Auwal while he was being held at a Jega police station, tensions are building in Kebbi State.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed on Saturday that Auwal, who was arrested on April 15 in connection with a stolen trailer rim, collapsed under suspicious circumstances less than 24 hours after his arrest. He was rushed to Jega General Hospital but was pronounced dead by 10:00 p.m. that night.
According to police spokesperson CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, the incident prompted an urgent directive from Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Sani, who ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough scrutiny.
Preliminary investigations have now led to the detention of three officers linked to the suspect’s death. Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer overseeing the station at the time has been removed from his post and issued a formal query.
“This act was not only unprofessional but criminal,” CSP Abubakar stated. “The Nigeria Police Force will not tolerate any form of misconduct. The involved officers will face the full weight of the law.”
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage, reviving national debates about police brutality, detainee rights, and the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s law enforcement system.
Authorities say a full autopsy is underway, and the investigation remains active as the public demands accountability and justice for the late Auwal.
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