#Endsars: Police Strikes again kill 20-year-old Daniel Chibuike Onyeukwu

Family Demands Justice After Police Allegedly Kill 20-Year-Old Singer Sleek in Port Harcourt

The family of 20-year-old singer Daniel Chibuike Ikeaguchi, popularly known as Sleek, has demanded justice following his alleged shooting by police officers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Sleek’s elder sister, Maureen, said her brother was shot on September 19, 2020, after he and his friend, Reuben, encountered police officers around Elelenwo.

According to her, the family initially heard that operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were involved, but later learnt that the officers were attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

Maureen said the family became worried after repeated calls to Daniel and Reuben went unanswered for several hours.

She said their father visited several police stations while trying to determine what had happened before eventually learning that Reuben was being held at Elelenwo Police Station and that Daniel had been shot.

Maureen alleged that when family members arrived at the station, they were initially prevented from seeing either of the young men.

She said she eventually encountered Reuben while he was being moved by officers and learnt from him that Daniel had been shot.

According to her account, a police officer later told her that Daniel had died, while the Divisional Police Officer directed the family to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital mortuary.

The family subsequently identified Daniel’s body at the mortuary.

Maureen said Reuben later told the family that he and Daniel had begun walking faster after noticing police officers approaching because they feared harassment.

She said Reuben claimed the officers began pursuing them and shouting that they were thieves.

According to the account attributed to Reuben, both young men stopped and attempted to show that they were not carrying anything incriminating, but gunshots were fired and Daniel was hit.

Reuben allegedly said he shouted for help and pleaded with the officers to take his injured friend to hospital, but instead he was handcuffed and detained.

Maureen further alleged that rather than taking Daniel directly for emergency medical treatment, officers placed the wounded singer in a tricycle and transported him between police stations.

She claimed Daniel either died on the way to Elelenwo Police Station or shortly after arriving there.

The family has also questioned circumstances surrounding the registration of Daniel’s body at the hospital.

Maureen alleged that her brother was initially recorded under the name “Daniel Anambra,” with his age given as 30 instead of 20, and his death reportedly described as resulting from an accident.

She said the family wanted an explanation for the alleged discrepancies and called for a full investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.

Maureen also criticised the DPO of Elelenwo Police Station, accusing him of failing to properly communicate with the family after the incident.

The accounts remain allegations from Sleek’s family and friend, but the case added to growing public anger at the time over reports of police brutality and demands for accountability from law-enforcement agencies.