“…he reported himself to the police, his truck sold, he was detained and he died in the process” – family source
By Sanni Abdullahi
A 52-year-old truck driver, Jeremiah Agbo, has died after spending time in detention at the Dei Dei Police Station in Abuja, sparking calls from family members and civil society groups for a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of his custody and death.
According to accounts provided by Agbo’s family, the incident began after a road accident along the Kubwa–Dei Dei Expressway. Agbo’s truck collided with a woman’s car. Rather than flee, Agbo said he reported himself at Dei Dei police station. The two parties later reached a settlement. Court documents were not presented, but family members said they agreed Agbo would refund ₦540,000 to the car owner, payable at ₦100,000 monthly.
The settlement process stalled early. Agbo said he spent ₦210,000 towing both vehicles from the scene, which delayed the start of the monthly payments. Police also held his truck for about five months during the dispute. With no means to earn income, Agbo eventually sold the truck for ₦300,000 and paid the entire amount to the woman, leaving a balance of ₦240,000.
The case took a fatal turn on Thursday, 6 August 2026. Family members say Agbo met with the investigating police officer at the station and agreed to pay ₦100,000 toward the outstanding balance that same day. He told his wife he could not withdraw the money because his bank had already closed. When he returned to the station later, an officer on duty detained him.
The next day, Friday, 7 August, Agbo’s wife went to the station to check on him. She was told he had collapsed and had been taken to a nearby chemist for treatment. At the chemist, she said Agbo told her that a police officer identified as Dogara had beaten him on the forehead with a stick while in custody.
According to the family, the Divisional Police Officer at Dei gave the wife ₦20,000 to take Agbo to General Hospital in Kubwa for further care. Doctors at the General Hospital said his condition required more advanced treatment and referred him to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
Agbo was admitted at UATH, but his condition worsened. Family members say medical bills climbed to approximately ₦700,000 before he died in the hospital days later.
News of his death has drawn strong reactions in Dei and Kubwa, where Agbo was known as a commercial driver who plied the busy Abuja-Kaduna corridor.
“We are not saying the accident should be ignored. He accepted responsibility and was paying. But why was he detained and allegedly beaten over money?” a family source said. “We want justice. We want the Nigeria Police Force to investigate what happened inside that cell.”
The family is asking the police authorities, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Attorney General’s office to probe the role of officers at Dei station, particularly the allegation that Agbo was assaulted while in detention. They also want answers on why a civil debt matter led to detention and the seizure of his only source of livelihood.
As of press time, the FCT Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident. Efforts to reach the DPO of Dei Dei Division for comment were unsuccessful.
Community leaders in Dei Dei are urging calm but say they will not back down until there is transparency.
“Jeremiah reported himself. He tried to pay. He died in police custody,” one relative said. “All we are asking for is justice.”
