By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The family of a 26 year old Benin – based car dealer, who is believed to have died in custody of the police in Edo State, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, demanding an investigation into circumstances that led to his death.

The deceased car dealer, Benson Obode, allegedly died in police custody on 21 May, following his arrest by four policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, from Lagos State on allegations that he bought a stolen 306 Peugeot car.

The www.icirnigeria.org reported on Saturday that the four SARS operatives, Adeleke Adedeji, Oniyo Musa, Henry Shobowale and Abena John, had been arrested and were being detained and questioned in Lagos in connection with Obode’s death.

After he died in their custody, the policemen are alleged to have dumped his corpse at the mortuary of the Central Hospital in Benin even without informing the family.

In the petition signed by its lawyer, Philip Okoh, the family urged the police chief to investigate the role of the commissioners of police in Edo and Lagos States and operatives of the SARS in both states in Obode’s death.