Another Suspect Died Inside Operation Puff Adder: Allegations of Torture, Gunshots, and Bodies in the Mortuary.

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State — The leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over the death of a suspect, Mr. Joseph Zolo, while in custody of the Operation Puff Adder Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command.

The petition, signed by the NBA Chairman, Somina Johnbull, and the Chairman of the NBA Human Rights Committee, Lugard Tare-Otu, was also copied to the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command. It raises grave concerns over what the association describes as a pattern of extra-judicial killings, unlawful detention, torture, and systemic human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by officers attached to the unit.

According to the petition, Mr. Joseph Zolo and two others were arrested on January 8, 2025, by the Safer Highways Unit over alleged possession of marijuana and subsequently handed over to the Puff Adder Unit, reportedly led by CSP Christian Nwaogbo. The NBA stated that Zolo was detained from January 8 to January 12, 2025, without being charged to court, tried, or granted bail, contrary to constitutional provisions.

The lawyers further alleged that during this period, Zolo was denied access to legal representation and family members, despite repeated efforts by his relatives to secure his release. He reportedly died while still in police custody, circumstances which the NBA insists remain unexplained and deeply troubling.

The association warned that Zolo’s death is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend linked to the Puff Adder Unit in Bayelsa State.

The petition recalled a previous allegation involving the same unit in the killing of Mr. Patrick Peresuode from Amassoma Community, Bayelsa State. According to reports, no officer has been held accountable in that case, nor have the alleged perpetrators been taken into custody, further fueling public outrage and mistrust.

“With these recurring allegations and unresolved cases, the NBA Yenagoa Branch expressed strong concern over the continued operation of the unit in its current form,” the petition noted.

In light of these developments, the NBA called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately intervene, order a thorough, independent investigation, and disband Operation Puff Adder in Bayelsa State to prevent further loss of lives and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

The association stressed that accountability, transparency, and strict adherence to the rule of law remain essential to democratic policing and warned that silence or inaction would only deepen the culture of impunity.