Man allegedly tortured to death by Naval Officers over his son’s N1.5 million debt (Photo)

 A 43-year-old man, Mr. Ajayi Oladele, has been reportedly tortured to death by operatives of the Nigerian Navy at 4 Mechanised Brigade, Benin-City, Edo State, over his alleged inability to repay N1.5 million he borrowed from a friend, Mr. Kayode Adeosho in January.

Oladele was allegedly granted bail by officers of the Army Brigade Benin, where he was being detained after his health deteriorated.

He, however, died on Friday evening at the Warri Central Hospital where he was rushed for medical treatment.

The PUNCH learnt that the deceased, a father of three, was arrested on May 8, 2017 in Warri, where he lived with his family and was allegedly tortured by soldiers who came to arrest him despite appeals that he had serious health challenges.

It was learnt that the soldiers also denied the Late Oladele access to his drugs until his health got worse.

The bereaved family in company with its lawyer, Mr Kunle Ogheneovo Edun, confirmed the development at a news conference held in Warri on Saturday, accusing the soldiers of deliberately killing their breadwinner over N1.5 million debt.

Edun, who spoke on behalf of the family, called on the authorities of the Nigerian Army to probe the killing to ensure that Oladele’s killers were arrested and justice was served.

He explained that when his health condition worsened, the late Oladele was taken to the Military Hospital in Benin where his legs were chained to the bed. When it became obvious that the Military Hospital could no longer manage the health condition, that was when he was released on May 10, 2017.

The deceased wife, Esther, who could barely speak at the press conference, demanded for justice and also called on relevant authorities to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

The Public Relations Officer, 4 Brigade, Benin City, Capt. Maidawa Maidawa, could not be reached on the telephone for clarification on the incident.

But Sgt Hassan, who had earlier called the family to take the deceased on bail before he eventually died, when contacted declined to speak on the matter saying that journalists should come to Benin for any inquiry.

According to him, “You know the 4 Brigade in Benin-City, go there and make enquiries. The woman knows the place, let her take you there, this is an operational office line you are calling, any moment from now someone else is going to take over the phone.”