A former Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, reportedly slumped during an alleged encounter with police officers at a roadblock in the Upper Sokponba area of Benin City.
Vanguard reports that Eboigbodin was reportedly stopped on Monday, December 2, while driving with his wife. According to Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), initial accounts from Eboigbodin’s wife revealed that the police demanded his vehicle papers, which were up to date.
They allegedly raised concerns about a discrepancy between the car’s glass engraving and its plate number.
She said despite providing explanations, the police reportedly seized his documents, ordered his arrest, and called for a tow truck to impound his car.
The tension at the scene escalated, and Eboigbodin reportedly slumped. Bystanders and his wife rushed him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Witnesses claimed the officers fled the scene instead of providing assistance, the publication said .
The Edo State Police Command has denied allegations of misconduct. Police spokesperson SP Moses Yamu stated that the account shared by civil rights groups does not align with the version provided by the deceased’s wife to the authorities.
Civil society organizations, including ANEEJ and the Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOSCO), have demanded justice for Eboigbodin. Rev. Ugolor described him as a dedicated leader and activist who served as the former NLC Chairman in Edo State, National Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and a pioneer in various civil society initiatives.
