, Joe Ajaero, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of police officers){kind=link}
The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of police officers allegedly involved in the death of Kaduna Eboidogbin, a former Chairperson of the Edo State Council.
In a statement released by Benson Upah, NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Ajaero condemned the incident, describing it as a “heinous crime” and dismissing the officers’ account as “ridiculous” and an insult to public intelligence.
“We demand nothing less than the immediate arrest, detention, and prosecution of the officers involved in this murder,” Ajaero declared.
Eboidogbin reportedly collapsed and died during a confrontation with police officers at a checkpoint on Upper Sakponba Road in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State on Monday.
According to a coalition of civil society groups, the trouble began when officers stopped Eboidogbin and his wife, requesting vehicle documents that he reportedly provided.
Despite complying and identifying himself, the officers allegedly seized his documents and demanded he follow them to the station.
The situation escalated, leading to a scuffle that caused Eboidogbin to suffer a fatal heart attack.
Omobude Agho, a spokesperson for the coalition, recounted that after Eboidogbin collapsed, the officers fled the scene, leaving bystanders to rush him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Ajaero described Eboidogbin’s death as a significant loss to the labour movement and urged the Edo State Police Command and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
He cautioned against any attempt to cover up the case, noting that such actions have undermined trust in law enforcement in the past.
“The Nigeria Police Force gains nothing by shielding rogue officers but loses everything, including its credibility,” Ajaero stated.
He urged Edo State Police Commissioner Umoru Ozigi to act decisively and transparently, emphasizing the need for justice to restore public trust.
He also called for stricter disciplinary measures against erring officers, citing the Nigerian Army’s approach to handling misconduct as an example.
Ajaero warned that failure to address the situation appropriately could spark public outrage and further damage the police force’s reputation.
“With public confidence in law enforcement already fragile, the police must act swiftly to avoid further backlash,” he added.
Eboidogbin was a prominent figure in the labour and civil society communities, having served as Head of Uhunmwonde Local Government Administration, National Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and a founding member of both the Edo Civil Society Organisation (EDOSCO) and the Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON).