No fewer than 12 months after the sudden death of one Mr Heaven Idaya Eric, a native of Agbura community of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State while in custody of the State’s Command of the Nigeria Police Force, a Coroner inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death has been established.
The Tide which monitored the delivery of judgement by the Chief Coroner carrying out the inquest on the death of the victim reports that the Presiding Magistrate, His Honour, F. Obiri in suit no.CRM/02/2026 ruled that post mortem autopsy from Pathologists established that the victim died of multiple traumatic injuries inflicted on him during extreme torture by operatives of a unit of the Police force codenamed ‘Operation Puff Adder’.
The Tide further gathered that trouble started when Officers and Men of the Operation Puff Adder(now renamed Violent Crime Unit), broke into the deceased home in Agbura community at about 2.am on Friday 4th April, 2025 and whisked him away, allegeding that he was in possession of a bicycle purportedly stolen by one Mr Dapa Godgift, a native of neighbouring Azikoro community, and that the said property belonged to one Mrs Seskpe Igwelle, a resident of the late Eric’s home town, Agbura.
Reliving the ordeal of the deceased in the hands of the Police while still alive, sources from his family, Mr Princewill Tedugo, his nephew, and Mrs Julie Ozi, his elder sister told THE TIDE that as was testified during the Coroner’s inquest by an eye witness, the police immediately commenced torturing the late Heaven Idaya Eric once apprehending him at his residence.
They also alleged that the police again at their station brought him out from their operational vehicle, a van and ordered additional torture on him, resulting to unconsciousness.
“When the officer in charge noticed that Heaven Idaya Eric has become unconscious after intense torture at the station, he ordered only Dapa Godgift to be thrown into cell.
“We hear in an attempt to revive him, the officer and his team took him to an hospital in Yenagoa where he was rejected due to alleged severity of his condition.
“They later took him to other hospitals which also did the same, and finally took him to the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
“What pained us most was that the Police failed to inform us that our brother was dead. Heaven Idaya Eric has little children and doesn’t have a wife again before his death. Now who would take care of those little Children, he is our beloved brother, we’ll pursue this case to its logical conclusion with all our strength” the duo said.
The Coroner judgement read in parts: ” Post mortem autopsy from Pathologists further established that the victim, Mr Heaven Idaya Eric died from severely inflicted injuries which caused him haemorrhagic shock rising from multiple traumatic wounds sustained after his arrest/during his custody with the Police and not drug intake or addiction as the operatives of the Operation Puff Adder alleged.
“I therefore recommend that all documents and autopsy results relating to his detention and subsequent death be kept appropriately. And I further recommend that the Police and other relevant authorities put safety measures to forestall these kind of occurrences in custody centres in the State.
“I here by order the Police to work with the Ministry of Justice and the family to release the remains of the deceased for proper funeral”.
Meanwhile, reacting to the ruling, the paramount ruler of Agbura community, HRH E.N Daufa(Ikile Viii) commended the Court for giving an impartial judgement.
He said due to the serenity and peaceful disposition of the community, residents over the years have had a cordial relationship with the police.
The traditional ruler, however expressed his regrets that the operatives of the Operation Puff Adder acted unlawfully and without due diligence or regard for the working relationship existing between the community and the Police Force.
“We’ll continue to seek Justice. The Coroner Court has given ruling on its findings, but we’ll go to the court of competent jurisdiction to seek further redress.
“This kinds of unlawful arrests and detentions which has lead to the death of this innocent, young and promising man must stop forthwith”, the monarch said.
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