Detainee Beaten To Death In Benue Police Cell

A middle aged man and detainee at the detention cell of the Benue State Police Command Headquaters in Makurdi, Terkula Chaka has been allegedly beaten to death by fellow inmates. Saturday Vanguard gathered that the deceased was declared dead by doctors at the Makurdi Federal Medical where he was taken to by Police authorities for medical attention. Confirming the unfortunate incident, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Daniel Ezeala disclosed that the deceased was allegedly arrested in Makurdi for robbery and was about to face trial before his sudden demise. According to the PPRO, “He engaged his fellow cell inmates in a fight for undisclosed reasons and thereafter slumped. His fellow inmates drew the attention of the Police to his condition and he was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Center where he eventually gave up the ghost. Seven of the inmates have been taken in for questioning”, Ezeala said. On last weekend’s Tiv farmers/Fulani clash at Yogbo in Guma local Government area of the state, the PPRO disclosed that the command had recorded only one death, stressing that security has also been beefed up in the area just as peace has returned to the community. According to Ezeala, “investigations by the command revealed that one man was killed in the Yogbo crisis contrary to what was reported in the newspapers. Peace has also returned to the community; we also gathered that the army arrested two persons with arms in the area, though, they are yet to hand them over to us”, the PPRO added.