A Lagos-based barber, Babajide Adelowo, has died a day after his release from police custody, where he allegedly spent 28 days following his arrest over suspected possession of firearms.
Adelowo was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s X-Squad at his barbing shop in Iba Estate, Iyana-Iba, on October 6 and released on November 3, 2026.
However, his family accused the police operatives of subjecting him to severe torture, restricting his access to relatives and lawyers and denying him adequate medical attention during his detention.
Narrating the incident, his uncle, Samson Adelowo, said the police searched the deceased’s shop following allegations that he possessed firearms but failed to recover any weapons.
He questioned why the officers allegedly seized items, including a generator, chairs and other belongings from the shop despite not finding the firearms they were looking for.
Samson also alleged that the police confiscated his nephew’s telephone and prevented him from communicating freely with his family throughout the detention period.
He further claimed that lawyers engaged by the family were allowed to see the deceased only two or three times during the 28 days.
The uncle also alleged that an estate chairman who accompanied the lawyers to meet the police team was detained and forced to pay N50,000 before securing his release.
Adelowo’s wife, Mariam, said her husband was extremely weak and could barely walk when the police released him at PWD bus stop.
She alleged that her husband told her he had repeatedly been suspended from a weightlifting rod with his hands and legs tied during interrogation.
According to her, the alleged treatment occurred three times, lasting between 30 and 40 minutes on each occasion.
She added that her husband had fainted four times while in detention and became so weak that other detainees assisted him with eating and bathing.
A medical report dated November 5, 2026, indicated that Adelowo was admitted to hospital with bleeding, vomiting blood, abdominal pain, general body weakness and anaemia.
The report attributed his condition to gastrointestinal bleeding complicated by haemorrhagic shock. Despite medical attention and a blood transfusion, efforts to save his life were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead on November 4.
Following his death, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Adekunle Taofeek, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to order an independent investigation.
The group demanded an independent autopsy involving the family and prosecution of any officers found culpable.
It also called for investigations into alleged extortion and the recovery of belongings reportedly seized from the deceased’s shop.
When contacted, the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, denied that Adelowo was tortured, adding that an official statement would be issued.
The incident has renewed concerns over police accountability, treatment of detainees and the protection of fundamental human rights in Nigeria.
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