By Esther Yakubu
Controversy over the death of a victim, Daniel Agori was reportedly unveiled on Tuesday at the Independent Investigative Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police.
Superintendent Justin Adaka, commander of the IGP Monitoring unit Aluu in Rivers state, told the panel that Agori died during a shootout between members of his unit and a gang of kidnappers..
Adaka, the first respondent in the alleged extrajudicial killing of Daniel Agori, stated that the deceased, allegedly a cultist and member of kidnapping group was shot on the leg during a cross fire between the police and kidnappers.
In his testimony before the Justice Sulaiman Galadima(rtd), Adaka said between 2018 and 2019 he was the commander of the monitoring unit mandated to arrest the increasing incidence of kidnapping and cultism in Aluu, Rivers state.
Specifically, he said on 5th May 2019, one Golden Osarumuen came to their command and reported that his wife had been kidnapped, he immediately assigned DSP Yusuf Bello (2nd respondent) who launched an investigation into the case.
Led by James Idachaba the lead counsel for the respondents, Adaka stated that the kidnappers made numerous calls with different phone numbers demanding for N5 million ransom.
Justin Adaka disclosed to the panel that, unknown to the kidnappers there was a tracker installed on Osarumuen’s phone line, which the kidnappers were calling for the ransom. After much negotiation, the ransom was reduced to N1million.
On the day of payment, “We laid siege and was able to arrest one of gang members who led them to where the kidnapped victim was held”, adding that one of the frequently used phone number, used to negotiate for the ransom was tracked and traced to the late Daniel Agori.
Continuing his narration, he said the monitoring team armed with a search warrant went to arrest Daniel Agori. But his mother was trying to resist arrest.
“This action of the mother led to the arrest of the younger brother David and their mother Victoria Agori (the complainant)”.
“During a search of the house locally made gun was recovered and they were taken to the police station in Aluu”.
According to Adaka, during interrogation by the police, when the father of the deceased came to their office, he lamented the behaviour of his son, alleging that he belonged to a cult group by the name Iceland confraternity, while David the younger brother to the deceased confessed that the gun recovered in the house belonged to his brother.
Continuing, Adaka said Daniel Agori who admitted to being a member of a kidnapping gang that specialise in terrorising the Elele-Ikwere route was asked to take the police to their hideout.
He explained that during the raid at their hideout, there was a shootout between the police and members of kidnap ring, and Daniel was shot in the foot.
He was immediately rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Earlier, Daniel’s father Mr. Princewill Agori a retired Naval officer stated before the panel that on the 11th May 2019 he was at a burial when information got to him that his children were fighting and operative of SARS were invited.
However, when he got home, he saw the house in disarray, with properties destroyed and vandalise, not knowing the whereabout of his family members. It was the next day that he got information they were at the Aluu Police station. “On getting to the police station I was made to write a statement under duress that he was into kidnapping”.
It would be recalled at the first hearing, Victoria Agori (the complainant) testified that her 21-year son, Daniel Agori was shot dead by IGP’s Monitoring unit at Aluu Police Station where he was alleged to have kidnapped and raped a 90 year old woman.
She disclosed to the panel that one of her daughters, Felicia Agori connived with her police boyfriend Victor Nelson (3rd Respondent) who along with Justin Adaka ,Yusuf Bello and one Musa invaded the family house in the absence of her husband shooting sporadically and torturing her. “They beat me with a pestle and one of the police officer forcefully opened my private part and inserted his gun, while labelled me and my deceased son kidnappers.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing to 17th March 2021 and also the appearance of Victor Nelson before the panel.
