The Delta State Police Command has clarified that the police were not responsible for the death of Okediachi Emeka, following the results of an autopsy.
Emeka’s brother, Desmond Okediachi, had claimed that police officers fatally injured Emeka during an incident in the Ogbe-Osowe Quarters of Asaba on November 14, 2024. He alleged that officers repeatedly struck Emeka with the butt of their guns.
However, the state police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe stated that Emeka had revealed he sustained his injuries by hitting his head against a wall, while trying to escape from police officers, who had responded to a distress call.
An autopsy conducted on December 7, 2024, confirmed that Emeka’s cause of death was hypertensive heart disease, worsened by uncontrolled hypertension and the presence of various hard drugs, including tramadol, morphine, opium, diazepine, amitriptyline, and ethyl alcohol, as indicated in the toxicology report.
The autopsy was carried out with family members present and conducted by two pathologists.
Following the death of Emeka which occurred on the November 14, 2024, it was alleged that the police were responsible for his death.
The command issued a statement on November 29, 2024, assuring members of the public and concerned family members of the deceased that the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda has ordered an immediate investigation with the assurance that if the policemen were found to be culpable, they will be punished.
“The commissioner of police as promised, ensured that a discreet investigation was carried out, which necessitated the conduct of an autopsy.
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“The autopsy was carried out on the 7th December 2024 in the presence of some family members of the deceased and conducted by two pathologists, one of the pathologists was brought by the family of the deceased.
“The command wishes to inform members of the public that the autopsy report is finally out and as promised, the command wishes to inform members of the public of the outcome.
“The cause of death as revealed by the autopsy report are as follows, hypertensive heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension complicated by pharmacological agents as indicated in the toxicology report which include a concentration of hard drugs such as tramadol, morphine, opium, diazepine, amitriptyline, and ethyl alcohol.
“It is on this note that the commissioner of police therefore advises parents, wards, and particularly the youths to stay away from drug abuse as is seen in this case. Abusing hard drugs is dangerous to the heart and could lead to untimely death,” the statement concluded.
