Am officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Isaac Edoh, has revealed that he is yet to know whether his son was dead or alive as he narrated his ordeal to the Edo State Judicial Panel of Enquiry.
Isaac, who is from Benue State, said the last time he saw his son, Baba Edoh, was inside the custody of the Edo State Police Command in 2011.
Narrating his story to the panel in Benin City, he said his son was an undergraduate of English Literature, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, before he was allegedly killed by the police.
The father of the deceased said in June 2011, he received an anonymous call from the State Criminal Investigation Department of Edo State Police Command that his son was arrested along Auchi road for alleged kidnapping.
“I tried speaking with him but was prevented by officers on duty despite the knowledge of the relationship between me and the suspect in their custody.
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“I immediately contacted the officer-in-charge of kidnapping section, who informed that my son was not in their custody. I was informed that he was one of the suspects paraded in a national television on June 4, 2011.
“I was told armed robbers attacked and shot my son while the police were conducting further investigations in Auchi. None of the police officers sustained injuries. The only person they said died was my son. Since his death, the police have refused to release the corpse.
“I later filed a suit in the High Court for fundamental rights, and got judgment. Unfortunately, the police appealed the case on the basis of identity conflict.
“The Court of Appeal urged us to return to the High Court for retrial. Since then, I have been demoralised and don’t know whether he is alive or dead; all I want is justice.”
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Ada Ehigiamusoe (Rtd), admitted a photograph of the son, Compact Disk of paraded suspects, and court proceedings as exhibits.
