Tension and anger have gripped Bayelsa State following the death of a 24-year-old man, Patrick Peresuodei, whose family alleges he was brutally beaten and tortured after being arrested, following a complaint by a social media influencer.
Patrick and his younger brother, Destiny, were allegedly picked up from their home in the early hours of January 15 by one Bodmas Kemepadei, accompanied by several youths and four operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The incident has sparked fears of reprisal attacks, with lawyers and civil society organisations calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Patrick’s arrest, detention and eventual death, amid renewed concerns over alleged abuses by specialised security units in the state.
Narrating his ordeal, Destiny said they were abducted at about 6:00 a.m. and taken to Bodmas’ residence, where they were tied up and beaten for more than three hours with planks and machetes before being moved to a police station.
He said the arrests followed a complaint by Bodmas over alleged cyberbullying and threats to life.
According to Destiny, both brothers were detained for days and subjected to repeated torture while in custody.
He said that a day before their release, Patrick was taken out of the cell for more than two hours and returned severely injured.
“When he came back, his body was covered with bruises. He was in severe pain and could not talk,” Destiny said.
Destiny accused operatives attached to the Bayelsa State Police Command’s Operation Puff Adder of torturing his brother while in custody — an allegation the police have denied.
In a 20-minute video seen by The Guardian, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth Development, Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, was seen visiting the family as part of a fact-finding effort aimed at calming tensions.
In the video, Destiny rejected police claims that Patrick had pre-existing injuries before his arrest.
“They just threw my brother to me. He couldn’t talk, couldn’t raise his arms or neck. That was when my uncle rushed him to the hospital,” he said.
Patrick was reportedly taken to several public hospitals in Bayelsa and later referred to tertiary facilities in Port Harcourt. Destiny said the family struggled to raise funds for treatment.
Patrick eventually died on January 28 after developing breathing difficulties.
“The police never took my brother to a clinic. Everything we did was on our own,” Destiny added.
The Bayelsa State Police Command has not publicly responded in detail to the family’s allegations. However, in a statement signed by its spokesman, DSP Musa Mohammed, the command denied complicity in Patrick’s death.
The statement said the Commissioner of Police, Iyamah Daniel Edebor, had ordered a full-scale investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the police, Bodmas Prince Kemepade allegedly brought Patrick and Destiny to the station on January 15 in the company of NSCDC operatives over an alleged Facebook threat to life.
The command said bruises were noticed on the suspects upon arrival, but investigation commenced immediately due to the seriousness of the allegations.
It added that Patrick was incoherent while giving his statement and was taken to the police clinic, where a doctor advised that he be released to his relatives for proper medical care.
The police said both brothers were subsequently released to a family member, Charles Edure.
“About two weeks after their release, reports surfaced on social media alleging that Peresuodei Ondutimi Abbah, who was released earlier, died on January 30, 2026. The command should not be dragged into this allegation of murder on social media platforms,” the statement said.
The police also announced a manhunt for Bodmas and his alleged accomplices, urging members of the public to remain calm, avoid speculation and refrain from spreading unverified information, as investigations continue.
(Guardian)
