The family of a Lagos-based barber, Babajide Adelowo, who died a day after his release from police custody, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.
The family, through its solicitors, VC Dadi & Co., demanded an independent investigation into his arrest, detention and alleged torture by operatives of the X-Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.
They also called for an independent post-mortem examination to establish the actual cause of the barber’s death and determine whether he sustained fatal internal injuries while in custody.
In the petition dated November 5, 2026, and obtained by Metro on Wednesday, the family accused the officers, allegedly led by one Jamaica, of subjecting the deceased to severe physical torture during interrogation.
The solicitors urged the police chief to ensure that all officers who participated in Adelowo’s arrest, interrogation and detention were identified and investigated, regardless of their ranks.
The petition followed the death of the barber on November 4, barely 24 hours after he was released from detention, where he allegedly spent 28 days.
Metro had reported that Adelowo was arrested at his shop in Iba Estate, Iyana Iba, on October 6 over alleged possession of firearms and was released on November 3 in a severely weakened condition.
The family had alleged that he was repeatedly suspended from a weightlifting rod with his hands and legs tied during interrogation, leaving him unable to walk or perform basic personal activities without assistance.
His medical report also indicated that he was treated for severe anaemia resulting from upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, complicated by haemorrhagic shock, before he died following unsuccessful resuscitation efforts.
Meanwhile, the family stated in the petition that the circumstances surrounding his detention and release raised serious questions, particularly the decision to hand him over to relatives when he was allegedly in a critical condition.
The petition read, “The family has serious reasons to believe that the injuries suffered by the deceased during his detention, including the alleged torture, may have caused or substantially contributed to his death.
“Of particular concern is the information that the deceased was allegedly subjected to severe physical torture, including ‘hanging’, while being interrogated by members of the police team.
“The officers asked the family to meet them at PWD Bus Stop, Ikeja, where they allegedly assisted in transferring the deceased into a waiting vehicle and advised his relatives to take him directly to a hospital.
“The police team claimed to have searched for a hospital to admit him, but none was willing to accept him.”
Describing the circumstances of his release as disturbing, the solicitors said the deceased’s physical condition suggested that he was critically ill or severely injured when he was handed over to his relatives.
“The circumstances surrounding his death raise serious questions as to whether the deceased sustained fatal injuries while in police custody and whether his death was caused or substantially contributed to by the alleged torture and ill-treatment inflicted upon him,” the petition added.
The family asked the IG to order the immediate preservation of all relevant evidence, including arrest and detention records, station diary entries, interrogation records, bail documents and CCTV footage covering the detention facility and the circumstances surrounding his release.
It also requested that medical records relating to the deceased’s treatment be obtained and preserved, while officers who took him to or met his relatives at PWD Bus Stop should be identified and interviewed.
The solicitors specifically urged the police authorities to investigate the allegation that the deceased was suspended during interrogation and determine whether any officer assaulted, threatened or subjected him to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
They further requested that officers who might be implicated in the incident be prevented from interfering with the investigation.
The family also called for criminal prosecution of any officer found culpable, alongside appropriate disciplinary measures, and asked the police authorities to communicate the outcome of the investigation to them through their solicitors.
Explaining its position, the family said it was not opposed to the police investigating any genuine allegation against the deceased but insisted that such an investigation did not justify the alleged treatment.
The petition stated, “The family is not opposed to the police investigating any genuine allegation against the deceased. However, an allegation that a person is a cult member or possesses firearms cannot lawfully justify torture or any form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
“Even a suspect accused of the most serious offence remains entitled to humane treatment, protection of his dignity and preservation of his life while in police custody.”
The family copied the Police Service Commission in the petition.
When contacted, the command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, noted that the investigation into the incident was still ongoing.