Twenty-eight-year-old security simplyidentified as Lukman, suspected to be an armed robber, has died in the police custody in Ibadan, Oyo State.The suspect, who was a guard at Agodi spare parts shop, was allegedly tortured to death by police officers at Gate 2 division of the state police command.

It was gathered yesterday that the suspect who also combined security guard

with vulcanizing at Irefin junction in the city was, employed as a night guard at the Ceramic and Aluminum section of the Motor Spare Parts Sellers

Association at Gate area early in the year to curb the incessant robbery

incidence taking place at the shops.

He was however arrested and detained last Friday by police officers at Gate 2

division when his employers reported at the police station a robbery incident

that took place at the aluminum shop.It was gathered that his employer had informed the police that he (Lukman) was the suspect and he was immediately arrested.

According to a source at the market, the deceased was arrested last Friday and locked up in the police custody.However, when his family went there

on Sunday, he was found dead in the cell. His death had raised a lot of

questions among spare parts sellers and family member, especially when the

police declared that he committed suicide.

When contacted the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) DSP Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor dismissed the report,saying there was no iota of truth in the report. She insisted that Lukman committed suicide using his cloth ((Jalamia) he swore the night of the incident, saying "His cell mate were there, they can testify to it Physical examination on his body shows that his tongue was

outside. How can anybody say he was tortured to death".

She added that an autopsy had been carried out on his corpse, while the state

Commissioner of police Mr Mohammed Indabawa had ordered full investigation into the matter.“They can testify to it Physical examination on his body shows that his tongue was outside. How they can say he was tortured to death, "she said.

She added that an autopsy has been carried out on his corpse, while the state

Commissioner of police Mr Mohammed Indabawa has ordered full investigation into the matter.It was gathered that family members stormed the police station on Wednesday to discuss with the police authority on the possibility of releasing his corpsefor burial.