A recent incident involving the death of a young man named Erasmus while in police custody has sparked intense scrutiny and debate across social media platforms.
The Nigerian Police Force’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, responded to allegations of police brutality following a viral video in which Erasmus’ mother accused the police of causing her son’s death.
According to Adejobi, Erasmus, who was a suspect in a serious crime, was detained under suspicion of involvement in a rape and murder case. He clarified that Erasmus was not subjected to torture by the police and pointed to an autopsy report attributing his death to asphyxiation, which is a form of suffocation.
The controversy escalated when activist Harrison Gwamnishu, in a pointed Twitter post, questioned the police’s handling of the case.
Gwamnishu criticized the police for allegedly not conducting a thorough investigation before making public statements. He raised concerns about the conditions of Erasmus’ detention, questioning whether the police had properly investigated the allegations against him or the circumstances surrounding his death.
