Family members and associates of 16-year-old Atser Sesugh have called for a thorough and independent forensic investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The demand follows a statement by the Benue State Police Command confirming the death of the teenager, who had been linked to an alleged fraud and cybercrime case under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Makurdi.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme, stated that Sesugh and two other suspects were arrested by EFCC operatives on April 28 and allegedly escaped from custody on May 4.
According to the police, the EFCC received intelligence on May 23 indicating that the fleeing suspects had been sighted at a hideout behind the Mechanic Village in the Kanshio area of Makurdi.
Police operatives reportedly responded to the tip-off and encountered a group of suspected cultists who opened fire on them, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
The command said that while retreating from the scene, officers discovered Sesugh lying in a pool of blood by the roadside. He was reportedly taken to the Police Cottage Hospital in Makurdi, where he was confirmed dead.
His body was subsequently deposited at the mortuary of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital pending preservation and autopsy.
However, family members and associates of the deceased have challenged the official account, insisting that Sesugh was not an escapee from custody as alleged by authorities.
Speaking to journalists, Sesugh’s mother, Mrs Jennifer Asar, said her son had been granted bail by the EFCC before his death.
The 35-year-old mother of five, who sells garri to support her family, described the teenager as hardworking and responsible.
“My son was a diligent boy who worked at construction sites and was also learning furniture making. He always supported the family and was committed to his work,” she said.
Asar alleged that she later received information that her son had been shot by an EFCC operative. She further claimed that the commission had neither contacted her nor granted the family access to his remains since the incident.
According to her, Sesugh informed her two days before his death that he had been arrested by the EFCC but was released after investigators found no incriminating evidence against him.
“I appeal to the government, especially Governor Hyacinth Alia, to ensure that justice is served. I also need support to recover my son’s body and give him a proper burial,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Philip Udo, a furniture maker and one of Sesugh’s trainers, described the deceased as honest, hardworking and dedicated to learning the trade.
Udo alleged that on the day of the incident, two men he identified as EFCC operatives invited Sesugh and another youth to meet them at a hotel in Makurdi.
According to him, the operatives pursued the young men upon their arrival, and Sesugh was fatally shot during the chase.
He further claimed that although the teenager had been granted bail, his mobile phone was withheld and he was asked to pay N100,000 before it could be released.
Udo called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, maintaining that Sesugh was not involved in criminal activities.
Similarly, the Proprietress of New Educational Teaching Academic College, Makurdi, Mrs Mimido Aondoana, described the deceased as a disciplined and obedient student.
She said Sesugh had recently resumed his education after being absent due to financial challenges.
According to Aondoana, an arrangement had been made with his mother to pay his school fees in instalments from proceeds of her garri business.
“He attended coaching classes regularly and was performing well in intermediate science. It was only after noticing his absence that I learnt of the tragic news of his death,” she said.
The family and associates of the deceased have urged relevant authorities to carry out a transparent, comprehensive and independent investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident and ensure accountability where necessary.
