News
Death In Cell: Force Hqtrs Orders Fresh Autopsy On Late Mechanic
The Police High Command has ordered that a fresh autopsy be conducted on late auto-mechanic, Chima Ikwunado, who died in police custody in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with his family present this time around.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, disclosed this when he appeared on a live television programme monitored by The Tide in Port Harcourt, at the weekend.
Mba said the force was yet to carry out any disciplinary action on the officers alleged to have tortured Chima to death because, according to him, investigations are still ongoing.
He, however, admitted that the head of the Eagle Crack Team of the police in Rivers State has been summoned to Abuja for questioning.
According to Mba, “The officer-in-charge of that crack team has been summoned to Force Headquarters, Abuja. I am significantly involved. He has made his statements; he has furnished us his case files. He has tendered some documents, including a post-mortem report that was conducted on the body (late Chima’s)
“But we needed to complete our investigations. We are also proposing repeating the post-mortem examination, and perhaps, this time around, we want to make sure that the representatives of the family of the deceased are involved.”
Mba, however, condoled with the family of late Chima Ikwunado and the people of Rivers State, pointing out that it was the duty of the police to ensure that the life of every Nigerian was preserved.
“The only thing I can tell the deceased family, friends of the deceased and every citizen out there, particularly in Port Harcourt, is to say that our heart goes out to the family.
“The death of any Nigerian is painful, it doesn’t matter how it occurred. Even when we engage with kidnappers, armed robbers, and perhaps, in course of the shootout they die, we don’t celebrate such deaths. Because, our core calling is not to take live. Our core calling is to preserve life,” the FPRO explained.
In the same vein, the Rivers State Police Command says it was yet to release the copse of the late mechanic because his family has not come to claim it.
The Tide recalls that the family of late Chima Ikwunado had accused the police of refusing them access to his remains.
But spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, while speaking on a live radio programme in Port Harcourt, at the weekend, denied the allegation, and urged the family members to visit the commissioner of police to demand his corpse.
“When you want to discuss, it is not by castigating the police or saying police didn’t do this or that. It is important that the family should come and see the commissioner of police, and say that ‘we want the body of our son that died in police custody’.
“But they have not done that. They have not seen the commissioner of police. So, are we going to release the body to a ghost?
Omoni, also denied that police operatives tortured the suspect (late Chima) in order to get a confession from him, insisting that torture was not part of its procedure.
“Torture is not part of our procedure in eliciting confessions from suspects. If someone commits an offense, interview and interrogations are what we do. I worked in Critical Investigation Departments like State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), even Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“I was officer-in-charge of Legal (O/C Legal) sometime before I was made the PRO. If you want a suspect to tell you the truth of what happened, you don’t need to torture him. You don’t need to subject him to any kind of harsh treatment.
“By the time you are asking him questions, he will be playing into your hands. He will be telling you what he did without even knowing it,” Omoni stated.
However, the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has warned journalists in the state against any form of romance with the police over the killing of Chima Ikwunado and the continued detention of his four colleagues who are currently remanded in prison custody.
This was contained in a statement signed by the council’s Secretary, Mr Ike Wigodo, and made available to newsmen, at the weekend, in Port Harcourt.
The statement noted that journalists should shun any form of invitation by the E-Crack Police Team, but should concern themselves more on how to unravel the circumstances behind the death of the mechanic in police custody.
It also advised on what it described as team work in order to resist any sort of temptation that may arise in the process of interacting with the police.
“It has come to the notice of NUJ, Rivers State Council that the E-Crack unit of the police is inviting some journalists, including some national dailies to come and see a video”, it warned.
It further charged members of the council to ensure fairness and balance in their reportage, rather than taking sides.
According to the statement, any invitation from the police should be via the NUJ leadership in the state to ensure proper and thorough work and to promote team work.
“Please, disregard such invitation as such should come through the NUJ. Members of NUJ should beware that any invitations from E-Crack on this matter is unacceptable. NUJ should fight together as a family”, it appealed.
Some journalists who reacted to the alleged police invitation, condemned it in its entirety, and said it must stop forthwith.
Others described it as “blood envelop invitation”, which they said ought not to be heard within journalism circle.
The Tide learnt that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state is hell-bent in their support of the Ikoku traders to shut down operations today, should the police fail to release the corpse of late Chima to his family.
It would be recalled that the E-Crack unit of the Rivers State Police Command has been in the news since last week over the death of a mechanic in their custody during alleged ‘torture’ to extract confessional statement.
The Tide gathered that some of the remaining four suspects, arrested along with Chima, also had fresh injuries allegedly sustained during interrogation to extract confessional statements while in custody at the E-Crack Team’s Mile 1 Police Station base.
Chima’s colleagues now remanded in prison custody following their arraignment in court, include, Victor Ogbonna, Osaze Friday, Ifeanyi Osuji, and Ifeanyi Onyekwere.
The Presidency has dismissed circulating social media reports alleging that kitchen staff at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa were arrested over an alleged plot to poison President Bola Tinubu.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the clarification yesterday on his official X account where he shared a video of the report and categorically denied it.
The video purportedly shows activity at the presidential villa, accompanied by a voiceover reporting the incident.
The video claimed, “Today we examine reports surrounding the shocking arrest of a presidential chef over an alleged plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an incident that has prompted swift intervention by a special police squad and triggered heightened security measures within the presidential environment.
“According to preliminary information from security sources, the arrest followed intelligence alerts suggesting suspicious activities connected to food preparation procedures within restricted areas linked to presidential operations.
“Authorities moved quickly after receiving credible reports that indicated a possible threat to the safety of the president, leading to a coordinated investigation involving specialised security personnel tasked with protecting national leadership.
The video added, Officials emphasized that the operation was carried out professionally and discreetly to avoid public panic while ensuring that all potential risks were neutralised.
“The suspect, identified as a member of kitchen staff attached to presidential services, was reportedly taken into custody for questioning as investigators began examining evidence and verifying claims connected to the alleged poisoning attempt.
“Security agencies have urged the public to remain calm, stressing that the investigation remains ongoing and that allegations do not automatically imply guilt until due process.”
However, Onanuga dismissed the report as baseless fake news.
He wrote, “No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by this video.”
As of the time of going to the Press authorities have not provided further details on the origin of the misleading video or potential motives behind its circulation.
Iranian state television yesterday confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, without referring to a massive US and Israeli attack on his residence.
A presenter on state television announced Khamenei’s death at 5:00 am (0130 GMT), as the channel broadcast archive images with a black banner as a sign of mourning.
Khamenei, 86, had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989.
US President, Donald Trump, had on Saturday said that Khamenei had been killed in air strikes, though there has been no confirmation from Tehran.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
“This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
Trump said the Iranian leader had been “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.”
The US President said the death of Khamenei gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back their country.”
“We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces no longer want to fight and are looking for Immunity from us.
“As I said last night, Now they can have immunity, later they only get death! Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian patriots and work together as a unit to bring back the country to the greatness it deserves.
“That process should soon start in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated.
“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world!” Trump posted.
However, China has strongly condemned the attack and killing of Iran’s supreme leader.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson condemned the killing yesterday when asked to comment on the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader in the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday in Tehran.
The attack and killing of Iran’s supreme leader is a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security, said the spokesperson, adding that it tramples on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms in international relations.
China urges for an immediate stop to the military operations, no further escalation of the tense situation and joint effort to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large, the spokesperson added.
The Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has urged Nigerians, particularly women, to recognise that leadership exists at every level of society and that everyone is a leader within their own space.
Banigo made this call in Port Harcourt at the weekend during her Induction/Decoration as an AWLO Life Patroness, Unveiling of AWLO’s 2026 Magazine and Relaunch of the Rivers State Chapter.
Speaking with newsmen after the induction, the former Rivers State Deputy Governor emphasised the importance of nurturing and mentoring young girls, warning that neglecting the girl-child comes with far-reaching consequences for society.
According to her, investing in the growth and development of young girls is crucial to building a responsible and progressive nation.
“Well, everybody, to be honest with you, is a leader in their own space. If you lose your girlhood, you have lost your life. That is why it is important to catch them young,” she said.
“All my life, I have worked with young women because I believe that as we mentor them, they are meant to learn from us for the fulfilment of their God-given purpose,” she added.
The lawmaker further stressed the need for urgent and deliberate steps to ensure women are not left behind in national development, noting that any neglect of women ultimately affects the entire system and the larger society.
She highlighted education, healthcare, and skills acquisition as critical areas of focus, while calling for sustained efforts to keep girls in school and enable them to advance as far as their abilities permit.
Banigo also underscored the need for improved healthcare facilities to prevent maternal mortality and deaths from preventable diseases, while also advocating for vocational training and skill development opportunities for girl child.
According to her, raising responsible girls ultimately leads to building responsible adults and, by extension, a stronger and more purposeful society.
-
News3 days agoAmend Constitution To Accommodate State Police, Tinubu Tells Senators
-
Politics3 days agoSenate Urges Tinubu To Sack CAC Boss
-
News3 days agoDisu Takes Over As New IGP …Declares Total War On Corruption, Impunity
-
Business3 days ago
President Tinubu Extends Raw Shea Nuts Export Ban To 2027
-
Business3 days ago
Crisis Response: EU-project Delivers New Vet. Clinic To Katsina Govt.
-
Sports3 days ago
NDG: Rivers Coach Appeal To NDDC In Talent Discovery
-
Business3 days ago
President Tinubu Approves Extension Ban On Raw Shea Nut Export
-
Rivers3 days ago
Etche Clan Urges Govt On Chieftaincy Recognition