Taiye Atobiloye, a policeman serving under the Kwara State Police Command, has passed away while in a cell at the D Division of the Kogi State Police Command. This occurred after he was detained for being absent from duty for two days at the Zone 8 Command, Lokoja, Kogi State.
Punch reported that Atobiloye, with service number 232980, who was attached to the Oke Onigbin Division in Kwara State, was posted for a special duty called Quick Intervention at the Zone 8 Command for a month. He was however absent for two days after resuming duty in Lokoja.
Atobiloye allegedly spent about eight days in the cell before his demise. A source told the publication;
“What transpired was that every month, the Zone 8 Command usually selects policemen from every division and assigns them to special duty for a month in Zone 8 Command, Lokoja. After one month, the policemen return home.
“So, Atobiloye, who was attached to the Oke Onigbin Division, was part of the policemen posted to the Zone 8 Command, Lokoja, but when he resumed, he didn’t show up for work for two days and was penalized by being detained in a cell for about eight days.
“It was when policemen checked on him in the cell that they realized he had collapsed and died in the cell. At the cell he was detained, only offending policemen are usually detained there, so it is likely he was alone in the cell.”
A relative of the deceased, Femi Igbekele, mentioned that family members of the deceased, including his wife, attempted to reach him on the phone after he departed for special duty but to no avail.
He stated;
“AP No 232980 Inspector Taiye Atobiloye, serving at Kwara State Command, attached to the Oke Onigbin Division was sent to Lokoja Zone 8 on special duty called Quick Intervention.
“For the past eight days, all family members were calling him but no response from his phone number as the phone was ringing but nobody picked, likewise his wife called him and nobody picked (up) the call until the information reached the family that he was detained at the D (Division) Lokoja, and died in the cell.”
Spokesperson for the Zone 8 Command, Ruth Awi, who confirmed the development, said Atobiloye was found inebriated after neglecting work for two days. Awi also informed newsmen that the policeman was detained so he could regain sobriety.
She stated;
“He was not detained at the Zonal Headquarters, he was detained at the D Division in Lokoja. He reported at the Zonal Headquarters and then disappeared; there are penalties for individuals who absent themselves from duty without any excuse. But in his case, he not only stayed away from work, he was inebriated when he was found.
“For the effects of the alcohol to wear off, he was instructed to stay in the cell for two days until he was fit for questioning. So, he was detained at the D Division for about two or three days after which news came to us that he had passed away.”