Erasmus Emeya: Suspect arrested for murder was not tortured to death in custody – FCT Police reiterate

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has reiterated that a 33-year-old graduate identified as Erasmus Emeya was not tortured to death by the police as claimed by his family. 

The FCT police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, stated this on Thursday, July 4, 2024, while reacting to a video of the deceased’s widowed mother, Rebecca Emeya, crying out in one of the media stations.

“FCT POLICE REITERATES: Late Erasmus was not tortured to death. Discrete investigations were conducted to determine the remote and immediate cause of death of the deceased, and an autopsy was carried out, which confirmed the stance of the police. For more details contact me,” the PPRO stated. 

Erasmus died on April 6, 2023 while in police custody. 

Erasmus and one Benjamin Agbasi were arrested for their alleged involvement in the stabbing and killing of one 25-year-old lady, Blessing Ogbu, at the front of the Number One Hotel, Nyanya, Abuja.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, DCP Ahmed Musa, had ordered discrete investigations into the remote and immediate cause of death of the deceased suspect. As part of the ongoing investigations, an autopsy to determine the remote cause of his death commenced and the report of the medical examiner is yet to be revealed. 

According to witnesses, trouble started when some youths gathered at the home of the other suspect, Benjamin, after he stabbed Blessing during a heated argument at Market Community in Nyanya. 

It was gathered that Blessing had confronted Benjamin accusing him of insulting her boyfriend and this led to the stabbing of the young lady. 

Chairman of the Market, Bello Adegboyega conveyed Blessing to the Nyanya General Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors. 

The incident was reported at the Nyanya Police Station, a group of police from the station raided the community and made random arrests of people at sight.

The mother of the deceased alleged that Erasmus was tortured and killed at the Nyanya Police Station.