Reports reaching National Network suggest that the family of the Tricycle(Keke) Driver, PraiseGod John, who reportedly died in premises of Estate Police Station, Woji, Obi/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State may have decided to forgive the alleged killer of their brother and opted for peaceful resolution of the matter. We learned that the family had in a meeting in the Commissioner of Police office at Police headquarters last week Thursday reportedly said they were not interested in going on with the case.
A source in the meeting informed our reporter that it was reportedly agreed that the vulcanizer, Godwin Jegede, who is the main suspect should settle with the family and also take responsibility of expenses for the burial after which he will be released since the family is not interested in the matter.
The source disclosed that the keke drivers who were said to have damaged the vehicle of a Police Officer attached to the station, Inspector Amadi during the protest were reportedly mandated to pay for the damages in what seems to be two ways truce.
The Elder Brother to the deceased victim, Prophet John did not pick calls put across to him this but He had earlier told our reporter that they just had a meeting with Commissioner of Police.
The brother to the deceased told newsmen in an interview that his brother had an argument with the vulcanizer which resulted to a fight which later made him to visit the hospital where he died.
The younger sister to the deceased victim, Esther John in an interview, explained that her brother told her before his death on hospital bed that he was arrested last Friday and was detained till Monday when the Police released him and allegedly asked him to go and get 30,000 naira for his keke to be released. Esther further explained that his brother borrowed money and later paid 15,000 naira to the Police officers.
According to her,at the point of pumping the tyres which was reportedly deflected by the Police officers,the Vulcanizer who allegedly works with the Police in the station inflated the price which resulted to a fracas and the vulcanizer physically assaulted her brother.
She stated that her brother was seen behind the station in pains on the ground and was rushed to hospital by another keke driver who saw him.
Esther disclosed that the Police allegedly tortured her brother while in detention and he was starved too.
She stated that it was the keke driver that took her brother to the hospital that called her.
Meanwhile a Human Rights Lawyer, Barrister Higher King argued that the explanation of Divisional Police Officer(DPO) of the station on the death of the keke driver is not convincing. He called for thorough investigation into the matter.
The truce purportedly reached by the party could not be confirmed as National Network was unable to reach the Police spokesperson,DSP Nnamdi Omoni as at press time.
It would be recalled that keke drivers had protested the death of their colleague whom they claimed died in Police custody.
DSP Omoni before now had dismissed insinuation that the Keke driver died in Police custody.
