Sulieman Ibrahim Mafara, the Kogi State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has clarified that the Ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ponyan, in Yagba East Local Government Area, Mr. Bunmi David Ipinnaiye, didn’t die in its cell.
The Commandant told journalists on Wednesday in his office at the command’s headquarters in Lokoja that Ipinnaiye was arrested by officers and men of the corps for attempted murder.
He debunked reports by a handful of conventional and social media platforms alleging that the APC Ward Chairman committed suicide while in the cell.
He said that the politician died at ECWA Hospital, Ponyon, and not at the cell of the NSCDC.
Throwing more light on the alleged suicide as reported in some sections of the media, the commandant said the 42-year-old was arrested by the NSCDC following report that he wanted to behead a young boy who was making advances to his daughter.
Following the report to behead the boy, the commandant said Ipinnaiye was arrested on the 7th of June 2022 with the cutlass he was using to harass the boy who was chasing his 19-year-old daughter.
While he was detained at the counter, the Commandant said they tried counselilng him in a bid to calm him down when he suddenly asked for a bottle of water.
The Commandant said unknown to the officer who went to get him the water, he had a negative plan before they met him gasping for breath.
He said the APC chieftain, who was suspected to have strangulated himself, was rushed to the hospital.
He disclosed that after a while and efforts to stabilize him, the medical doctor confirmed him dead.
“He didn’t die while in NSCDC custody and detention. The deceased was never detained, so how will he now die in our custody,” Mafara added.
The Commandant, however, advised the media to always cross-check information with a view to providing a balanced and accurate report.