The family of a mechanic from the Spare Parts Market in Ikoku, located in the Mile 2 area of Port Harcourt, Chukwudi Abraham, is in conflict with the Rivers State Police Command over his death while in detention at the Octopus Strike Force Unit.
The family claims that Abraham was tortured during his detention after his arrest. However, the police contend that Abraham was a kidnapper and a cultist, and they deny the allegations of torture.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer, issued a statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday, stating that Abraham was implicated in a case of kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism. According to Iringe-Koko, Abraham was involved in the abduction of a businesswoman in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt on September 7, 2023. The victim was held captive for a week and released after her family paid a ransom of N3.5 million.
Iringe-Koko mentioned that the police had a meeting with Abraham’s parents, spouse, and two family legal representatives. During this meeting, it was agreed that the family would participate in an autopsy to determine the cause of his death.
The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command is aware of a press conference held on May 23, 2024, by a member of a civil society organization regarding the death of one Okereke Abraham Chukwudi, who was a suspect in police custody. The Police would like to inform the public that the deceased was implicated in a case involving kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism.
“This relates to the kidnapping of a female business tycoon (name withheld) in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt on September 7, 2023. The victim was kidnapped by five gunmen and taken to a hideout in Elechi waterside. The kidnappers were armed with AK-47 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, and locally-made pistols. The victim was held captive for seven days and was released after the victim’s family paid a ransom of N3.5 million.”
Meanwhile, Abraham’s father, Okereke Abraham, held a joint press briefing with the Rivers State Civil Society Organization. He maintained that his son was not a criminal and expressed frustration over the police’s handling of the situation. He mentioned that months after his son’s arrest, the police denied having him in custody, but his remains were later found at the University of Port Harcourt.
The grieving father recounted, “On January 11, I was at Choba and was called that my son was arrested. I thought it was a normal arrest, not knowing there was something behind it. My son is a mechanic.
“His younger brother said I should not worry, that he would come back. Two days later, when I went to the Octopus Unit, they chased me away. I started going from one police station to another, with my son’s wife and his younger brother.
“I contacted human rights to inform them. After three days, the police brought my son to his mechanic shop and searched everywhere but didn’t find anything. They took him back. When I went back to the Octopus Unit, they didn’t allow me to enter again. So I went back to human rights, who promised to follow up before I heard that they had killed my son.”
Fighting back tears, he appealed to the Rivers State Government for assistance.
Additionally, the Chairman of the State Civil Society Organization, Enefaa Georgewill, criticized the police for their handling of the case. Georgewill expressed sadness that even after Abraham’s arrest, the police made no effort to contact his wife or any family member.