SEVEN policemen have been arrested by the state Police Command over their involvement in the death of a 50-year-old female politician, Mrs. Ronke Adelugba, who was at the weekend allegedly beaten to death in her house in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the arrest, said the policemen would be in the custody until the outcome of the investigation on the cause of the death of the woman.

Ogodo explained that the policemen on patrol went to the area to arrest some suspected Indian hemp smokers and traced some of the suspects to the residence of the deceased when the incident happened.

The PPRO said the cause of the death of the woman could not be ascertained but added that the woman was confirmed to be hypertensive, saying that she was not killed by the policemen as being claimed by the family

He said an autopsy would be carried out on the deceased at the hospital to unravel the woman’s death.

However, an eyewitness explained that the policemen were responsible for the death of the woman who was until her death the Woman Leader of the Accord Party in Ward 5, Akure South Local Government Area of the state.

According to the source, the policemen invaded the area around 7.00 p.m. and went after some boys who evaded arrest.

He said the woman explained to them that the boys they were trailing were not in her house and they were only her customers who usually bought drinks and cigarettes from her.

He said "The seven policemen came in a white police Hilux van with registration number NPF 4236 B, stormed the house of the woman located at No. 1, Akinyemi Street, off Ijoka Road, Akure, after searching a nearby bush for some boys believed to be smoking Indian hemp in the area."

The eyewitnesses told Tribune Online that the policemen were in the habit of raiding bars and drinking joints in the area every weekend to arrest young boys who would later be asked to be bailed.

He said argument ensued between the deceased and the police when they insisted on searching her apartment.

"The policemen fled the scene immediately after the woman was confirmed dead while the youth took the body of the woman to their station," he said.