Fast rising Nigerian singer passes away in Police custody

• Nigerian singer Paul Obukowho has died in police custody in Delta State.

• The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Delta State Police Command, Asaba, detained a 24-year-old singer who visited the RRS office to inquire about his friend Odili’s arrest.

A tragic incident has occurred in Delta State, where rising Nigerian singer Paul Obukowho, aged 24, reportedly passed away while in police custody. Obukowho was detained by officers from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Asaba after visiting the station to inquire about the arrest of his friend, Prosper Odili.

The ordeal began on Wednesday morning when Prosper Odili, along with Obukowho, was stopped by RRS officers along Redeemed Road in Oshimili North Local Government Area. The police arrested both men without clear cause, took them to their homes for a search, and found nothing illegal. While Obukowho was released after the search, Odili was detained and taken to the police headquarters in Asaba.

Later that same day, around 5 p.m., Obukowho arrived at the police station to ask about his friend’s detention and possibly secure his release. However, upon arrival, he was reportedly handcuffed and subjected to severe physical abuse. He was thrown into a cell where he was allegedly tortured, leading to a collapse the following night.

After collapsing, Obukowho was rushed to the police clinic, but due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to the Specialist Hospital in Asaba and then referred to the Federal Medical Center (FMC). Sadly, despite medical intervention, Obukowho succumbed to the injuries sustained during the torture and passed away early Saturday morning at 4 a.m.

Following his death, the officers who had transported him to the hospital reportedly fled the scene. As of now, the body of Paul Obukowho is said to be at FMC Asaba, and his family and friends are demanding justice. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, has not yet issued a statement on the matter.

The source said, “Prosper Odili was actually walking in company of a friend on Wednesday morning around 8am when men of the RRS, former SARS from police headquarters in Asaba, along the Redeemed road, Okpanam accosted and arrested them unjustly without committing any crime. The police then took the two men back to their houses for a search and after the search, nothing incriminating was found and at that point the police released one of the boys and took Prosper away and put him in the cell at the police headquarters.

“And that very day at about 5pm, the deceased Paul Obukowho went to the RRS office at the state Police command to find out what happened to warrant the arrest of his friend, Prosper and possibly find a way to bail him.

“But shockingly, as Paul got there, he was detained, handcuffed on both hands and legs and was thrown into the cell with severe torture. On Thursday night, Paul collapsed in the cell and was rushed to the police clinic, resulting from the wounds from the torture, the clinic could not handle his situation, he was referred to Specialist Hospital Asaba.

“Finally, he was referred to the Federal Medical Center, FMC Asaba, but, unfortunately for Paul, he couldn’t survive the pains and wounds from the police torture in the cell, he died. Paul died in the early hours of Saturday, at about 4:00am at the FMC, Asaba. And immediately, Paul died the men of the RRS who brought him to the hospital took to their heels and ran away from the hospital premises.”