Pandemonium erupted in Edo State when a 52-year-old woman, identified as Titilayo, collapsed and died shortly after being arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had brought her before the court.
Titilayo’s death has sparked outrage, with accusations of negligence leveled against the NDLEA.
The deceased had been arrested by the Edo State Task Force and subsequently handed over to the NDLEA. She was accused of selling substances suspected to be hard drugs and had been held in custody since January 2026 without trial.
Witnesses at the court blamed the NDLEA for Titilayo’s death, alleging that she had been in their custody without receiving adequate medical care.
According to a reliable source, Titilayo had been ill before her appearance in court.
The source further claimed that the NDLEA command had initially left her body in the courtroom following the tragic incident.
The sudden death of the female suspect has fueled public anger and calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Titilayo’s death and the NDLEA’s conduct.
However, Edo Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, denied allegations of negligence on the part of his men as cause of the death.
“It is not true what they are saying. She was arraigned in court. There was no issue that she was not physically fit. She personally walked to the car, got to the court, and came down herself. What happened is not something you can start trading blame.
“She was arrested by the Edo State task force and transferred to the NDLEA. She was arrested for selling Loud.The crowd thought my men were running away. My men were not attacked.”
