A man identified as Fanen Kpenteman has reportedly died while in police custody in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following allegations of mistaken identity in a fraud case.
According to reports, Kpenteman’s bank account was allegedly compromised by unknown individuals who used it to defraud a Hausa trader at a local market in Makurdi. Upon tracing the account involved in the scam, the trader reportedly found Kpenteman’s photograph linked to it and assumed he was responsible for the crime.
Human rights activist, Mr. Ukan Kurugh, who disclosed the incident on his official Facebook page, stated that the trader reported the matter to Zone 4 Police Station. Officers from the station allegedly arrested Kpenteman at his workplace and subsequently handed him over to Operation Zenda, a police tactical unit, last Friday.
“From that moment, no one was allowed to see or speak to him. His family and friends were shut out completely,” Kurugh wrote.
“Then the worst happened — news broke that he had died in police custody, tortured to death for a crime he knew nothing about.”
Describing the incident as more than a tragic error, the activist accused the police of murder, calling it a clear case of injustice and abuse of power.
“And let me be clear, this is going to be a serious case between me and the men of the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, had not responded to calls or confirmed the incident.
