Six people have been arrested by the Osun State Police Command in connection with the death of a master’s degree student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr. Timothy Adegoke.
A statement by the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola says that the command is working assiduously to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Adegoke.
Mrs. Opalola states that a case of a missing person was reported on 7th November 2021 at about 4:30 PM at Edun Abon Police Station and later transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID.
The statement hints that policemen swung into action and arrested six suspects in connection with the case while the investigation is ongoing.
It adds that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olawale Olokode appeals to the family, students and management of the university to remain calm and be rest assured that the police will do all within its constitutional responsibility to unravel the mystery behind Adegoke’s death.
The master’s degree student came from Abuja to sit for his examination at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro, Osun State.
He allegedly lodged in a hotel and was declared missing until his lifeless body was found on the road. Adenitan Akinola
Osun State Police Command has paraded five persons suspected to be the killers of some farmers murdered on their way to farm in a village close to Modakeke, in Ife North Local Government sometimes in May this year.
The suspects, Akingbala Olakunle aka ‘All Stand,’ Owoniyi Segun aka ‘Agbede,’ Daramola Muideen aka ‘Ede,’ Shina Adeyemi and one Awotunde Elijah were said to have carried out the dastardly act over dispute on land/farm between the two communities lying between Modakeke/Ile-Ife.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olawale Olokode, said the murder of the farmers almost resulted in reprisal attack between Modakeke and Ile Ife people before the police intervention.
The Police Commissioner announced that a Honda Civic car was recovered along Sekona-Ile Ife on the 6th of this month, where the occupants abandoned the vehicle which was still running on sighting the police.
Also, one Saheed Lukman and Adeolu Adeniyi, alleged members of a cult group terrorising Ilesa were arrested in connection with stealing of phone, but were later discovered to have been involved in the murder of a rival cult member.
Similarly, one Akinlabi Toyese and Nurudeen Azeez were also paraded.
They were alleged to have been arrested for Armed Robbery by men of the vigilante group in Iwo with a revolver pistol which they used to attack an innocent citizen, robbing him of valuables worth over half a million naira.
Mr. Olokode then charged members of the public to be wary of young men who put sling bag across their necks as such bags could contain dangerous weapons.
Police in Osun State say every person involved in the Sunday fracas between Muslims and Traditional Worshipers, where a 25 years old man was killed will face the wrath of the Law no matter how highly placed.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olawale Olokode stated this while commenting on the matter in Osogbo.
Mr. Olokode who noted that conflicts relating to religion must be handled with caution and seriousness to avoid backlash said the outfit had commenced investigation into the matter.
The police boss who stated that there had been disagreement of that nature between the Egungun worshipers and the Kamorudeen mosque, blamed the parties for not obtaining police permit before embarking on such procession.
Recall that on Sunday, 27th of June at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, members of the Kamorudeen Islamic faith were holding a prayer in their mosque,with canopies placed the mosque at Oluode Aranyin street,around Itaolookan in Osogbo, while followers of Esubiyi Masquerade were also on procession along same route.
Reports had it that altercation ensued between adherents of the two faith leading to a bloody clash where a twenty five years old man, Moshood Salawudeen from Baale’s compound Iwo was shot dead and thirteen others sustained injury.
The deceased, Moshood Salawudeen was until his death the Baba Ijo of the Kamorudeen Mosque where the fracas occurred.
However, there have been different tales narrated by the two sides since the incidence occurred, with each truing to dominate the media space.
When Radio Nigeria visited the Mosque on Tuesday morning, residents were engaged in their normal activities, the Tailor, hairdresser shops and Auto mechanic workshop were in full operations.
One of the residents whom our correspondent interacted with refused to give his name but gave a short account of what he witnessed,saying, ” the Muslims put canopies outside their mosque and were praying when the procession of the Esubiyi Masquerade passed through the place, but chased back by the Muslims faithful”.
The witness explained that the Masquerade followers returned back with more number of followers and a free for all ensued and in the process gunshots rented the air, forcing every one to flee, while the victims were attended by their co worshipers.
However, the Chief Imam of the Kamorudeen Mosque, Alhaji Qosim Yunus who admitted that the two groups had issues which had led to litigation in the past said they were holding prayers for peace in Nigeria when the Masqueraders stampeded them, leading death and injuries.
Reacting to the issue, the custodian of the Esubiyi Masquerade Fashola Esuleke who said his father, Chief Kayode Esuleke owned the masquerade alleged that members of the Islamic society provoked the crisis as they attacked their peaceful possession, attempting to undress the Masquerade.
Fashola Esuleke explained that the Masquerade had gone to pray for a family member in the area, passing through the mosque in company of four policemen but were attacked by the Muslim worshipers who threw pebbles at them and attempted to remove the masquerade’s veil.
Meanwhile, the government of Osun state has appealed to the two sides to give peace a chance.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mrs Funke Egbemode, the government urged the police to fish out those responsible for the mayhem.
The government delegation led by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Binuyo Abdulahi later visited the surviving victims, including a twelve year old boy at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo and pledged to foot the medical bills.
