By Safiu Kehinde
The family of a Nigerian Wrestler Abasifreke John Jeremiah, has expressed suspicion over the true cause of the death of their son after initial claims that he drowned in Bayelsa state.
According to a human rights lawyer, Inihebe Effiong, the wrestler had gone to Bayelsa for training in preparation for a wrestling tournament on December 10, 2023.
“His family was informed on 28th December, 2023 that he drowned on 27th December, 2023 after a boat he was traveling with capsized,” the lawyer said in a tweet on his X handle.
He alleged that the people who reported his death to his family claiming to have recovered his corpse failed to send a photograph of his body to his family for identification despite repeated demands.
He added, “The family eventually obtained a photograph of the corpse through an anonymous source which has raised fundamental questions on the claims that he drowned and raises reasonable suspicion that he may have been murdered.
“The gory photograph of the corpse shows visible signs of deep cut in the neck and a bloodied body,” the lawyer alleged
He said the family have petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command to demand a full investigation into the cause of death of the late wrestler.