Mrs. Esther Ifi, the widow of a deceased vigilante, Mr. Jimoh Ifi has levelled accusations on the policemen attached to the Sapele Police Division, Delta State for allegedly helping the hoodlums that sent her husband to his grave at the early age of 36.
According to her,her husband was tortured and killed at about 8pm on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in the presence of police official because he had refused to give the head of the vigilante group, Mr. Felix Ipemu a sum of N500 which he received from a man who visited their joint in the Igbeku Community in the absence of the chairman.
According to Punch reports, the leader of the group, who also doubled as the youth leader in the community, reportedly ordered his boys to unleash terror on Jimoh for being disloyal to the group.
The widow disclosed that after the torture, her husband was unconscious and was taken to the police station in that state where he passed on the night of Thursday, July 17, 2014.
She revealed that a politician in the state was sponsoring the hoodlums, adding that the alleged sponsor had called on their family to ‘settle’ the issue.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that while four of the suspects were yet to be caught, a different team of policemen had trailed the suspects and eventually nabbed the ringleader and one of his boys identified as Lugard Tebu.
While recounting her ordeal since her husband died, the widow said, “It has been difficult for me to fend for the children since the gang killed my husband. They attacked him three times that very day. He was relaxing at home around 8pm when they attacked him again. Even though the police saw the gang beating him, they did not do anything.
“Instead, they bundled him inside their van and took him to the station. His brother and I begged them to release him, but they refused. It was the following day that we learnt he was dead. Just because of N500, they snatched my joy from me.”
The solicitor of the family, Omajali Emmanuel had filed a petition to the Inspector General of Police, the Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the state’s commissioner of police, which a part of it reads, “We are representatives of Mr. Jimoh Ifi, Mrs. Esther Ifi, Miss Juliet Ifi, Miss Knowledge Ifi, Miss Praise Ifi and Miss Prayer Ifi and other members of the family.
“It is on their behalf and instructions we forward this petition. While appealing to you to assist us in arresting the other suspects, we are also of the view that the team that handled the matter contributed to the death of the deceased. They must be brought to book in the interest of justice and fair play.’
While confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said, “Two of the suspects who murdered him have been arrested and charged to court. It is a complete lie that the police conspired with the gang to kill the victim.”
