The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the death of a patent medicine dealer, Nnaemeka Ugwu, at the Nsukka Area Command during a visit to secure the release of his detained wife.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the command, however, denied allegations that the deceased, who hailed from Umuezejor, Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area, was tortured to death by its personnel at the Nsukka Area Command.
Local reports have it that relatives of the deceased, in a viral video, alleged that some policemen harassed, detained, and tortured Nnaemeka to death when he visited the Nsukka Police Area Command to secure the release of his wife, who was in custody.
However, the state command refuted the claim, stating that Nnaemeka collapsed at the command without being tortured and was rushed to a hospital, where he later died.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, described reports that he was tortured to death as misleading and an attempt to deceive the public.
Providing an account of the incident, Ndukwe stated: “The command unequivocally states that Nnaemeka was never arrested, nor was he harassed, tortured, or killed in police custody, as alleged.
“Contrary to these allegations, operatives attached to the Nsukka Area Command, in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, initially arrested one Jerry Uche (male, aged 27) for alleged armed robbery and the snatching and sale of stolen motorcycles. Further investigations led to the arrest of three more male suspects: Emenike Ezugwu (alias Eternal, aged 28), Omeje Chidera (alias Dakpor, aged 27), and Omeje Obinna (alias Obaino, aged 37).
“During the operations, police recovered three locally made pistols, including a revolver, two live cartridges, three motorcycles allegedly snatched from victims, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and plastic-piped bottles used for consuming methamphetamine (locally known as ‘Mkpụrụ Mmiri’).
“Following their confessions, one of the suspects led operatives to Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGA, where individuals suspected of receiving stolen motorcycles were apprehended on February 6, 2025. Consequently, one Uroko Ifeanyi Moses (alias Sim-Card, aged 28) was identified and arrested. He confessed to the crime and led the operatives to recover two of the stolen motorcycles in Obollo-Afor. Other suspects were also arrested, including Mr Nnaemeka’s wife, Ngozi Nnaemeka, in connection with the case.”
