By Amos Aar
ANOTHER case of a suspect dying in police custody has emerged in Benue State, raising questions again over the handling of detainees by law enforcement authorities.
The latest incident involves a man identified as Philip Fanen Kpentuman, who reportedly died while in the custody of operatives of Operation Zenda, a special tactical unit under the Benue State Police Command.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, the suspect was arrested on September 20, 2025, for alleged armed robbery.
Police said he was booked for possible recovery of firearms and later led operatives to a hideout in Tse-Tamen settlement, Ugondu, Makurdi, where a locally made pistol and five cartridges were recovered.
The statement explained that after the recovery, the suspect requested to ease himself but attempted to escape. He was rearrested with the help of local youths who, according to the police, nearly lynched him for his “criminal antecedents” before officers intervened.
Shortly after being rescued, he reportedly complained of body pains and was rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, where he was confirmed dead, according to the statement.
The command denied allegations of extrajudicial killing, stressing that its operatives acted within the law and that the matter is under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department.
The police further urged the public to avoid spreading what it described as “unverified information that could mislead the public and undermine trust in law enforcement.”
However, the circumstances surrounding Kpentuman’s death have ignited worry and confusion among residents, journalists, and civil society actors.
Social media has been awash with criticism, with many questioning how a suspect who was allegedly strong enough to break free from custody suddenly became weak, complained of pains, and died almost immediately after.
A commentator wrote: “Two things are involved: either the youths bewitched him to die or the police is no longer trustworthy.”
Others have described the official account as an attempt to “sweep the case under the rug.”
Journalists have also raised pointed questions. One of the reporters asked the police directly in a WhatsApp group: “We learned that this man died in police custody between yesterday and the day before yesterday. Can you confirm this? This one should not be hard to confirm, since it happened under the very nose of the police at the state headquarters.”
Human rights advocate Ukan Kurugh has already waded into the matter, accusing the police of initially attempting to bury the incident until public pressure forced a reaction.
This latest development comes barely seven months after another suspect, Mr. Fabian Shember, died in police custody in February 2025, a case that similarly provoked outrage but has yet to be fully resolved.
The Benue State Police Command insists that Kpentuman’s body has been deposited at the morgue for autopsy, while investigations continue.
But for many citizens, the recurring deaths of suspects in custody highlight deepening concerns about torture, abuse of power, and accountability within the system.
More worrisome is the fact that, up till today, the Bene State command is yet to publish the result of an autopsy it promised to conduct on Fabian Shember since February. Will Kpentuman’s case be different?
