The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Thursday denied killing an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo in Abuja on Wednesday.
Police spokesman, Frank Mba made this known while fielding question at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja after a joint press briefing with military spokesmen.
He said, “It is usually unfortunate when any life is lost, it doesn’t matter the circumstances surrounding the loss of life, and therefore, my explanation here should not be seen as an excuse, justification or a validation of the unfortunate incident.”
He noted that, “It should be seen as clarification and a sincere attempt to at providing the facts as I was given. The facts as I was given indicate that the incident happened yesterday at about 9 am.”
He said, “The deceased who was later identified as a member of NSCDC was said to be driving along with members of his family precisely his wife.”
“He was said to have disobeyed traffic regulations and contravened by two traffic warden who are not conventional policemen,” Mba stated.
He said, “I want you to note that the contravention was carried out by traffic warden personnel, they are not conventional policemen.”
Mba said “I was told he drove himself personally to Nyanya Police station, he walked out of the car and was taken to the charge room for questioning.
It was simply in this process that he slumped, they rushed him to a hospital where he was eventually confirmed dead, Mba stated.
He was not on in full uniform, he was wearing only a trouser of the uniform which when seated in the vehicle, makes it difficult to identify him as uniform personnel.”
He said the Federal Capital Commissioner of Police told him there were no signs of physical assault on the body of the deceased NSCDC officer when he examined it.
He said the two traffic wardens involved are in detention pending an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
However, Daily Trust gathered that Jumbo was assaulted by the policemen who were angry over the traffic infraction, along the Nyanya/Mararaba road, around Abuja.
His wife Ada Jumbo reportedly said her husband was beaten by the policemen with a baton and slumped on the spot, despite pleas from the wife and children.
It was gathered that instead of taking him immediately to the hospital the policemen insisted on taking him to a nearby police station for questioning where he slumped a second time.
