Painter with 3 kids regains freedom after being unjustly detained in Kirikiri prison for 6 years

A Nigerian painter identified as Segun Esan has been released from Kirikiri Maximum correctional facility, 6 years after he was arrested by men of the Lagos state police command.

A humanitarian organisation, Headfort Foundation worked to secure the freedom of the father of three whose wife and kids had to survive without him since 2017.

He revealed that he was arrested one night while returning from work at night with his motorcycle. According to him, the police hit his bike from behind and seized it when he stopped.

Segun said was taken to the police station and tried to get his machine released to him but when he reached, they ordered his detention after which he was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS office in Lagos.

While in SARS custody his family made frantic efforts to raise money to secure his release but hit proved abortive, so they sent him to Kirikiri where he spent the last six years.

According to Headfort Foundation, Segun’s wife was heavily pregnant when he got arrested in 2017 and she gave on the day he was imprisoned.

The foundation shared a video of him recounting his ordeal and wrote; “Segun Esan is a talented painter and devoted father of three. Segun’s story is one of heartbreak and resilience, as he was unjustly arrested in 2017 on his way back from work, leaving behind his heavily pregnant wife and two children.

For six long years, he languished in custody, missing the birth of his third child, who happened to have been born the very day he was imprisoned, and the precious moments of his children’s early years.

But with the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers and team, we were able to bring hope back into the Esan family’s life by successfully securing Segun’s freedom. It was a moment of pure joy and restoration, as they had all but lost hope in the face of an unjust system.”