How Benue man reportedly died in police custody after fraud arrest

Fanen Kpenteman has reportedly died while being held at a police facility in Makurdi, Benue State, under circumstances sparking widespread outrage.

Sources say Kpenteman’s bank account was allegedly hacked by unknown persons, who used it to defraud a Hausa trader in the Makurdi market.

Tracing the transaction reportedly led the trader to Kpenteman’s photograph, prompting a complaint to the Zone 4 Police Station.

According to human-rights advocate Ukan Kurugh, who disclosed the case on Facebook, officers arrested Kpenteman at his workplace and later handed him over to the special tactical unit, Operation Zenda, last Friday.

Kurugh alleged that Kpenteman was denied access to his family and friends from the moment of arrest. Days later, news emerged that he had died in custody, allegedly after torture.

“This is not a tragic mistake; it is outright murder,” Kurugh declared, condemning the incident as a severe abuse of power and vowing to seek justice against the Benue State Police Command.

Efforts to reach the command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.