The death of one Patrick Peresuodei, 24, following alleged police torture and brutality has cast searchlight on the activities of the police in Bayelsa State amidst calls for a thorough investigation to unravel the culprits and bring them to book.
The late Patrick and his brother, Destiny, were handed over to the police unit, Operation Restore Hope, also popularly known as Operation Puff Adder, on January 15 this year, and according to the latter’s account, he left his brother briefly in the police cell to write his statement.
Destiny said he returned to the cell, he did not find his brother and when he asked, he was told the police took him and he would be returned; so, he waited.
A police patrol van later drove in and Patrick was dumped: the deceased who was healthy in spite of the earlier beatings they had received, could no longer move his body or speak.
Destiny called an uncle and Patrick was rushed to several hospitals in Bayelsa State including the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, but they could not treat him until he died while on the way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It all began with a social media post by Patrick which did not go down well with one Bodmas Kemepadei who drove to their house at Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at about 5:45am on January 15 accompanied by officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
In a 20-minute video recorded when the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth Development, Alfred Nimizigha visited the Peresuodei family on a fact-finding mission, Destiny recounted their ordeal and the events that led to his brother’s demise.
On the fateful day when Kemepadei drove to the Peresuodei residence, Patrick on recognising the former’s vehicle went to open the gate for him only to be met by slaps by Kemepadei until four NSCDC officers with him joined in the assault.
The assailants also beat him and bundled Patrick and himself into the vehicle and were driven to Kemepadei’s house where some boys took over, beating them with clubs and machetes until they were bruised and bleeding.
They were later handed over to the men of Operation Puff Adder where they were held for several days without bail in a bid to demoralise them and they were neither asked to make any statements
Destiny recounted that when the police finally asked him to go and make his statement, he left Patrick who was okay in the police cell.
But on returning to the police cell he discovered that his brother was not there and when he asked, he was told that they would bring him back.
When the police later brought him, Destiny said: “They just threw my brother to me. He couldn’t talk, he couldn’t raise his arms or neck. That was when my uncle rushed him to the hospital.”
He said when they discovered that no hospital in Bayelsa State could handle the medical situation, they were taking Patrick to Port Harcourt when he finally died.
Since then, the matter has taken a new dimension because of questions over the role of the police who are said to have claimed to have taken Patrick to a clinic for treatment.
Destiny debunked the police claims that they took his brother to any clinic, maintaining that Patrick was tortured to the point where he could not talk or move his neck and hands.
There are suspicions that Patrick’s neck and backbone were broken which made him immobile until his eventual death, which is akin to a case of extrajudicial killing.
The incident has drawn the attention of the state government and rights groups over police violence and brutality as Governor Douye Diri directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo to leave no stone unturned in investigating into the unfortunate incident and prosecuting those found wanting.
Reacting to the incident, Dambo wrote: “The Office of the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Bayelsa State has become aware of the unfortunate incident surrounding the death of Mr. Peresuodei Ondutimi Abbah of Amassoma Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“Please note that the Government of Bayelsa State continues to extend its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and community of the deceased and assures them that the state will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable through due process and brought to justice.
“Further to the directive of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa State, the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice, under the leadership of the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, has taken a keen and special interest in the matter and is working closely with the Nigeria Police Force (the Bayelsa State Police Command) and other relevant security agencies to ensure a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the deceased.
“While investigations are at an advanced stage (including successfully obtaining critical information and statements of potential witnesses), we assure you that the Government of Bayelsa State will leave no stone unturned in effectively investigating to unearth the truth in this matter.”
Dambo said Governor Diri had directed him to take over the matter upon the conclusion of the investigations and warned against any act that would escalate tensions.
The NSCDC has acknowledged that its officers were attached to Kemepadei due to his role in the Tantita Security outfit which handles pipeline surveillance in parts of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region.
But spokesman in Bayelsa State, Solomon Ogbere in his reaction to the development denied the involvement of the NSCDC officers, saying the personnel withdrew and advised Kemepadei to contact the police when they realised it was a case of cyber bullying.
His words: “Yes, our personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were with Bodmas Kemepadei on the day of the incident because they were attached to him based on Tantita Security corridor to protect pipeline infrastructure and upon realising it was a case of cyberbullying they retreated and advised Mr. Bodmas to take (the) matter to the police. And Patrick was handed over to the police based on their advice.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) does not tolerate illegality and we are open to investigation and the personnel involved have already given the statement to the police.
“We will allow due process as the Commandant frowns at anything illegal. NSCDC does not tolerate criminalities and anyone found guilty will face the full weight of the law.”
The Bayelsa State Police Command also spoke out in the wake of youths’ protests and called for a thorough investigation into the death.
The spokesman, Musa Mohammed has begun interrogating the NSCDC officers who accompanied Kemepadei as well as the men of Operation Puff Adder.
“In furtherance of the ongoing investigation into the death of one Patrick Peresoudei, the Bayelsa State Police Command has commenced the interrogation of four personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who allegedly accompanied one Bodmas Kemepadei to Amassoma Community, where Patrick Peresoudei was arrested, taken to the residence of Bodmas Kemepadei in Yenagoa and reportedly subjected to torture prior to his death.
“The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) is also interrogating the investigating team attached to Operation Restore Peace (Operation Puff Adder). The Police remain committed to conducting a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Patrick Peresoudei.
“All suspects who are alleged to have been involved in the incident will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law if found culpable. Meanwhile, the Command has activated its intelligence network to locate and arrest the prime suspect, Bodmas Kemepadei, who is at large.”
Mohammed said the Police Commissioner, Iyamah Daniel has called on those with useful information to assist the police while appealing to the public for support and understanding.
Meanwhile, Governor Diri has directed the police to expedite investigation into the incident and prosecution of all the culprits.
Diri gave the directive during the State Executive Council meeting in the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, February 4 saying the state government got involved in the matter immediately it happened, and stressed that any case of murder was between the state and the culprit.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Alabrah, Diri condemned the murder and implored Amassoma people and youths to support the police and the state government with useful information to enable Peresuodei’s family get justice.
Diri’s words: “Patrick Peresuodei’s death is another issue we have on our hands and I have been briefed by my Commissioner for Youth. I have also directed my Commissioner for Justice to take over the matter. It is a case of murder and we want a diligent investigation to unravel those that carried out the act. The process must be expedited so that all those culpable will face the law.”
