By Amos Aar
THERE is rising tension in Makurdi, Benue State capital, following the mysterious death of 38-year-old Fabian Shember in the custody of the E-Division of the Nigeria Police.
Shember, who was reportedly in good health upon his arrest, died last Monday, just three days after being detained.
In response to growing concerns and questions surrounding the circumstances of his death, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of E-Division, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Omale Aminu, convened a meeting with Shember’s family, led by his uncle, Mr. Vincent Shagbaor, in an attempt to calm tensions.
Shember’s detention stemmed from allegations of financial mismanagement at a filling station where he worked as a manager.
Chief Sylvester Ogbonna Kanu, Managing Director of Slykaan Oil Makurdi and Emiglo Global Ltd, explained that he had recommended Shember for employment at a friend’s filling station.
He said concerns however arose over missing funds amounting to ₦1.7 million, discrepancies in fuel supply records, and failure to remit sales proceeds.
Kanu alleged that efforts to obtain explanations from Shember were unsuccessful. Consequently, a meeting was convened at his Makurdi residence, attended by Shember and his guarantor, Mr. Sebastian Gwabo, Chief of Staff to Hon. Maurice Orwough, the Chairman of Guma LGA and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
During the meeting, four naval officers identified as Ambrose C. Imeogu, Ajayi, Abubakar, and Alaka, arrested Shember and Gwabo.
The detainees were subsequently handed over to the police at E-Division, where Shember remained in custody until his mystery death.
Chief Ogbonna insisted that Shember had ongoing financial discrepancies and failed to account for missing funds, fuel shortages, and unremitted deposits.
Ogbonna expressed regret over Shember’s death, stating: “Had he been alive, I would have been more comfortable discussing these issues.
“I did my best to support him and even facilitated his employment. It is heartbreaking that things turned out this way. May God grant us all the strength to move forward.”
However, Shember’s family strongly disagreed with this narrative. His uncle, Mr. Vincent Shagbaor, rejected the police’s request for an autopsy, arguing that a neutral team of doctors should conduct it instead.
He also revealed plans to file a petition against the DPO, the naval officers involved in the arrest, and Chief Ogbonna.
“Fabian was sound and healthy. Even the DPO confirmed that he was in good health the night before his death.
“We demand an independent autopsy to determine the cause of his death. The police have no right to conduct one without the family’s consent. This raises suspicions that they may be trying to cover something up,” Shagbaor stated.
Sebastian Gwabo, who was arrested alongside Shember, alleged that they were maltreated during their arrest by naval officers and wrongfully detained by the police.
“We were handcuffed, hit with guns, and my phone was broken. The Navy had no right to arrest us over a civil matter. Even at the station, I was denied bail at first, despite being just a guarantor. Fabian and I were detained beyond 24 hours, which is against the law,” Gwabo said.
He also claimed to have recorded evidence that Chief Ogbonna suggested they would confess under torture.
Legal practitioner and Shember’s relative, Barr. Moses Chia, criticised the handling of the case, describing the arrest and detention as unlawful.
“Fabian was detained from Saturday to Tuesday, well beyond the legal limit of 24 hours without charge. The Navy had no business arresting him, as this was a civil matter. The police must be held accountable for his death in custody,” Chia stated.
Meanwhile, the DPO, CSP Omale Aminu, who fielded a number of other questions explained that the Fabian suddenly became sick in detention on Sunday night and he personally rushed him to the police clinic at the police state headquarters, Makurdi where he later died.
“He also complied with the family’s decision during the Tuesday meeting in his office to apply for autopsy themselves to be conducted by neutral doctors as they requested.
The Shember family has petitioned authorities to investigate the circumstances leading to Fabian’s death. They insist that all parties involved, including the Nigerian Navy, the police, and the complainant, be held accountable if found culpable.
As the case unfolds, the Benue State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations.
Meanwhile, civil rights groups and members of the public have called for transparency in the investigation to ensure justice is served.
