Family of Man Who Died in Kwara Police Custody Demands Autopsy Result
The family of 35-year-old Olatunji Jimoh, who died in police custody in Ilorin, Kwara State, last month, is demanding the immediate release of the autopsy results conducted on the deceased. The family, through the convener of Justice for Olatunji Jimoh, Mr. Owolabi Tayo, also called on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to charge those involved in the alleged killing to court.
Jimoh, who was arrested on December 20, 2024, over a debt of N220,000 owed to one Gabriel Sunday, died while in police custody. His family suspects foul play, as they allege that he did not die by suicide, contrary to what some police reports suggested.
At a news conference in Ilorin on Friday, Owolabi Tayo expressed frustration over the denial of access to the autopsy results. He claimed that despite the results being reportedly released to the police two weeks ago, the family has been given conflicting information and redirected from one office to another.
“They have been telling one lie after another, directing us to the doctor, who then directed us back to them. They fully know that the results do not in any way indicate that the late Olatunji hanged himself,” Tayo said.
The family, alongside the Balogun Fulani community, has called for intervention from state authorities. They appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to act as both a father and the chief security officer of the state to ensure justice for Jimoh. The family has also written to the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, urging his involvement in the case.
“We are calling on the National Assembly to help investigate and look holistically at this case to address this horrible, terrible, and inhuman situation,” Tayo added. “If we leave them without punishment, Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb, which will soon explode due to the actions of some unprofessional police officers.”
The family described the emotional toll the incident has taken, particularly on Jimoh’s two children and elderly parents, who are reportedly undergoing treatment at the state’s General Hospital due to the trauma caused by his death.
“As we speak, the family is mourning, in pain, and traumatised,” Tayo said. “How long shall we allow innocent citizens to suffer in the hands of unprofessional policemen, who don’t care about citizens but rather extort, brutalize, and ill-treat them?”
The family’s call for justice highlights ongoing concerns over police brutality and the need for accountability in the law enforcement system.
