Detained policeman Dies in a cell for absconding duty

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

A policeman simply identified as Taiye Atobiloye has died in a cell over being absent from work.

It was reported that Taiye was serving under the Kwara state police command and died in their cell at Kogi state police command, D Division, after being locked up for being absent from duty for two days

Atobiloye before his demise was attached to the Oke Onigbin Division in Kwara state and later posted to Lokoja for a month quick intervention at the Zone 8 command.

It was reported that Atobiloye allegedly spent eight days in the cell before he gave up.

“What happened was that every month, the Zone 8 Command usually picks policemen from every division and posts them for special duty for a month in Zone 8 Command, Lokoja, and after one month, the policemen will return home.” The command said

“So, Atobiloye, who was attached to the Oke Onigbin Division, was part of the policemen posted to the Zone 8 Command, Lokoja, but when he resumed, he didn’t come for work for two days and was punished by being detained in a cell for about eight days.

“It was when policemen checked on him in the cell that they realised he had slumped and died in the cell. At the cell he was detained, only offending policemen are usually detained there, so it is likely he was alone in the cell.”

According to information, Femi Igbekele, a relative of the deceased said family members of the deceased, including his wife, tried to contact him on the phone after he left for special duty but it was all abortive.