Tears flowed as the remains of University of Uyo (UNIUYO) graduate were on Wednesday buried in his hometown, Mbiopkoro Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.
Kubiat Isaac Akpan, who was doing clearance in his institution’s Department of Architectural Science, was arrested by Police operatives at Eni’s supermarket along Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital on alleged involvement in cultism.
He was said to have later died suspiciously within 24 hours of being held at the Police detention facility, forcing the family lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, to suspect the Police and demand for an autopsy.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent Odiko Macdon, in a statement had in denied the complicity of his colleagues in the death of Kubiat, who was still processing his clearance at UNIUYO for onward movement to the NYSC camp before his life was cut short.
“Kubiat Isaac Akpan, had been in the wanted list of Police over his involvement in cultism. When he was arrested at Eni’s store by the Police, he started complaining of not feeling well but unfortunately he died,” part of the statement reads.
But Effiong said the PPRO’s statement was deliberately cooked up to paint his colleagues in good light, disclosing that the autopsy carried out on the deceased’s remains showed signs of torture.
In a statement on behalf of the family at the funeral ceremony, Effiong called for the prosecution of the squad leader, Joweigha Michael, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and other operatives assigned for the arrest of the deceased.
“Having spent a good number of years to study Architecture, we should be celebrating the graduation of Kubiat, and not to mourn his death. It is to the eternal shame of the Police that he was tortured to death by the very people who are paid to protect him”, he lamented.
The human rights lawyer, who frowned at the continuous heavy-handed approach to policing in Nigeria, noted the lack of empathy by Police, governor Udom Emmanuel and other good-spirited individuals, who, he noted “since the killing of Kubiat in Police custody, the Commissioner of Police, Amiengheme Andrew; governor Udom Emmanuel; the House of Assembly and other public office holders has deemed fit to issue statements condemning the murder.”
