The family of a 24-year-old man, Benjamin Okoli, who was allegedly killed by a prison official few months ago has called on the comptroller-general of prisons and human right groups to help them get justice.
The deceased’s family disclosed that the young Okoli, an Okada rider was allegedly shot by a prison guard at the premises of Olukayode magistrate court in Akure, the state capital after he was re-arrested for trying to escape while his lawyer was perfecting his bail.
The elder brother of the deceased, Emmanuel Okoli, said life has been difficult for the entire family since its bread winner was allegedly shot dead at his prime by an overzealous prison warder about five months ago.
Narrating the cause of his death, Emmanuel said his brother was arrested by NSCDC officials on his way home on that fateful day along Arakale, in Akure from where he had gone to buy fuel.
He said after he was arrested, Benjamin was handed over to men of the Ondo State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Nigeria police for interrogation.
According to him, Benjamin’s offence was that he contravened an order by the state government which had temporarily placed a ban on Okada riding at that particular time.
He added that his brother was therefore detained for 10 days before he was finally arraigned at the Olukayode magistrate court on August 5, 2015.
He further disclosed that “The lawyer we engaged was able to secure his bail and based on stringent condition that was attached to the bail, the lawyer and the family were trying to sort that out when my brother tried to escape which I think was a fallout of the inhuman treatment he received all through his illegal detention at Olokuta medium prison prior to his docking.
“He was however caught alive immediately and returned to the black maria that brought him to prison that day in the presence of everybody though badly beaten and mercilessly tortured.
“Some minutes later, we heard some gun shots right there and that was the last we saw or heard about our brother.”
