Outrage has followed the death of a 52-year-old woman, Titilayo Akindele, who reportedly collapsed during her arraignment at the Federal High Court in Benin City on Tuesday, in a case filed by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Akindele was said to have been arrested in January 2026 by the Edo State Task Force and later handed over to the NDLEA over allegations of selling illicit drugs. Family members claim she remained in custody for nearly three months before her first court appearance on April 1.
Her son, Samuel Akinsola, alleged that she had repeatedly complained of ill health while in custody. According to him, “she had been weak and sick for some time, and our requests for medical attention or bail were ignored.”
Witnesses in court said the defendant appeared visibly unwell before she slumped during proceedings.
However, the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, denied any negligence. He said, “the deceased walked into the courtroom herself, and there was nothing to suggest she was not physically fit to stand trial,” describing the incident as “unfortunate.”
Reacting to the development, the Security Situation Room, convened by Douglas Ogbankwa, condemned what it described as “persistent impunity, unlawful detention practices, and gross violations of fundamental human rights allegedly perpetrated by officials of the NDLEA across Nigeria.”
In a statement, the group said, “NDLEA facilities have, in many instances, become zones of prolonged and unlawful incarceration, where citizens are held for months without trial and in blatant disregard for constitutional provisions.”
The group announced the launch of a dedicated hotline to document cases of alleged unlawful detention within the NDLEA Edo State Command.
“We are asking families with relatives in NDLEA custody, concerned citizens, former detainees, and anyone with credible information on detention practices to come forward,” the statement added.
The Security Situation Room is demanding “an independent and transparent investigation into the death of Titilayo Akindele,” as well as “the suspension of officials directly involved and a comprehensive overhaul of the command structure.”
It also called for “the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation and the establishment of oversight mechanisms to monitor detention conditions.”
“Silence is not an option,” Ogbankwa said.
The group urged affected individuals to report cases via its hotline: 09071441204.
