The family of a young man, Monday Joseph, has called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his sudden death, barely 48 hours after he was arrested by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network, also known as Amotekun Corps.
Joseph, who was arrested in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area, was said to have died in custody and his remains deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
His sister, Joseph Veronica, led a protest to demand justice and transparency over the incident, stating that the family has been kept in the dark since his arrest.
“My name is Joseph Veronica. I am here because I want Nigerians to help find out the cause of my brother’s death. They killed him just like that,” she said tearfully. “He was arrested on Sunday, March 30th. I went there but they didn’t allow me to see him. Later, I was told he had died.”
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According to her, the late Joseph was arrested at his girlfriend’s residence and was allegedly beaten during his detention by Amotekun. She said the family only got to see his corpse on Tuesday.
“I saw his corpse on Tuesday. The mortuary attendant said it was Amotekun officers that brought the body. He was the breadwinner of our family. He had a child and our mother is still alive. We are from Delta State, but he was born and raised in Ondo,” she added.
However, the family’s legal representative, Ibukun Fasanmi, said petitions have been submitted to the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), requesting them to take over the case and investigate the officers involved.
“We humbly urge you to use your good offices to investigate this matter in view of the fact that Ondo State Security Network Agency (codenamed Amotekun Corps) is a creation of the law and its officer cannot be above the law,” the petition reads in part.
Fasanmi warned that the situation could escalate into a serious crisis if justice is not served, citing growing tension and threats of retaliation among friends and sympathizers of the deceased.
“The action of the officer Lati and his men is criminal and unconstitutional. If left unchecked, it may cascade into an uncontrollable crisis, given the reactions we are already witnessing,” he said.
Reacting to the development, the Commander of the Ondo Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, denied the allegations of torture, saying the deceased was not harmed while in custody.
“He was arrested for cult-related activities. He took ill while in detention and was rushed to the hospital where he died,” Adeleye stated.
