Four NSCDC officers arrested over Edo Bolt driver’s death

The Edo State Police Command on Thursday said its operatives had arrested four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for allegedly beating and inflicting bodily injury on a Bolt driver, Henry Osemwenkhia, which eventually led to his death on February 4.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Moses Yamu, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking on the circumstances that led to the death of the Bolt driver in Benin City, the state capital.

He said that Osemwenkhia, on February 4, 2025, reported a case of assault on him by men of the NSCDC after dropping off his passenger.

Yamu said that after listening to Osemwenkhia’s account, he was told to go for a medical check-up but surprisingly the command received the news of his death the following day.

Yamu said, “The command is aware of the death of the Bolt driver allegedly caused by the NSCDC officers. One Henry Osemwenkhia, who is now deceased, reported on February 4 at the New Etete Police Station that he took some passengers to the De Kaso Hotel along Limit Road in Benin and in the process, he had an altercation with a young man.

“He said some of the young man’s friends and some civil defence officers beat him and that, according to him, at a point, they even punctured his tyres.

“So, on reporting that matter, they quickly gave him a medical form where he should go for treatment but unfortunately, on February 5, we received a call that he died in his house while awaiting the results of his scan.

“So, as I am speaking with you, his corpse has been deposited at the hospital.

“We have four of the civil defence officers in our custody and the Commissioner of Police has directed an immediate investigation into the matter to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the driver,” Yamu said.

On his part, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, Efosa Ogbebor, said their men actually went there to separate a fight and were never involved in a fight with anybody.

He said his men were stationed at the said hotel to provide security for the facility.

Ogbebor also denied the allegation that his personnel were arrested by the police rather, they only went there to report themselves.

Earlier, on Thursday, the Bolt drivers in the state staged a peaceful protest, alleging the killing of their colleague by operatives of the NSCDC attached to one of the popular hotels in Benin City.

The protesters who converged on the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council, displayed placards that read thus: “Enough of the brutality by security agencies; Enough is enough; Bolt drivers are not slaves; Justice for Bolt drivers; and ‘We need justice for the death of Bolt driver, Henry.”

Speaking for the group, Festus Nwanbuzo, said they are demanding justice on behalf of their colleague who was allegedly killed by the officers of the NSCDC.

He said the deceased was an easygoing man who could never hurt anyone.