Family seeks officers’ arraignment over man’s death in custody

The family of Mr. Levi Opara, who allegedly died as a result of torture while in police custody at the Tiger Base in the Imo State Police Command, is calling for the swift arraignment of the officers suspected to have been involved in his ordeal. The deceased’s daughter, Ihuoma Opara, spoke on behalf of her siblings, stating that their father had a family disagreement with their mother, which led to their mother involving a police informant. This ultimately resulted in Opara’s arrest.

According to Ihuoma, when they learned of their father’s arrest, they quickly went to the police station the next day with their family relatives, where they found their father in good health. However, all attempts to secure his release for the purpose of resolving the family issue were unsuccessful, as they were asked to return on a later date. To their shock, when they returned, they were informed that their father had died. Subsequent inquiries revealed that he had been taken to the police clinic but was later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri, where they saw his lifeless body with several bruises and knife cuts on his neck.

The family submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police, requesting an autopsy of their father’s body, which was eventually carried out and revealed that he had been starved, tortured, and murdered. The family also requested the transfer of the case to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Owerri for the immediate arraignment of those involved. The Director of Public Prosecutions made recommendations after evaluating the police file and recommended the arraignment of all those involved in the murder. However, the arraignment has been delayed, and the family is appealing to the Federal Government, the Inspector General of Police, and Governor Hope Uzodimma to intervene and ensure that justice is served.

The Imo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, could not be reached for comment on the matter. The family is devastated by the loss of their father and is seeking accountability for the gruesome manner in which he was killed. They believe that since the perpetrators have been identified, arrested, and the investigation has concluded, there should be no further delay in bringing them to justice.