Police parade six  suspects for alleged involvement in culpable homicide in Kwara

Speaking with the media during the parade of the suspects on Thursday, the state Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, said that three of the suspects, identified as Peter Samuel (male), Jeremiah Tiozinda (male) and Sunday Agbenke (male), were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly killing and severing head of a 34 years old Rafiu Akao on Monday, November 4, 2024.

The police boss, who said that the unfortunate homicide incident occurred in the Asunlere community of Oke Oyi, Ilorin, the state capital, added that residents of the area reported at Oke-Oyi Police Division at about 9:00 pm on Monday the discovery of a headless body lying near a stream within the area.

“Upon receiving this report, detectives were swiftly dispatched to the scene. Photographic evidence was captured, revealing a significant mark of violence around the neck, indicating that the head was severed. The body was subsequently evacuated and deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital morgue, pending an autopsy.

“At the crime scene, detectives recovered an Itel Android phone, which was suspected to belong to one of the assailants, as well as a motorcycle believed to be the deceased’s property. Further search revealed that the deceased’s phone was also found on him.”

The police boss said that efforts of detectives to identify and apprehend the perpetrators yielded results in the early hours of November 6, 2024 as three suspects; Peter Samuel (Male ), Jeremiah Tiozinda (Male) and Sunday Agbenke (Male) were apprehended at separate locations.

“The individuals confessed to committing the crime. Additionally, the recovered Android phone was confirmed to belong to a suspect, Peter Samuel, who was planning to flee from the state. During interrogation, the suspects revealed that they disposed of the victim’s severed head in a nearby river”.

The command said that efforts were on to recover the evidence, adding that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for thorough investigation before subsequent arraignment in court.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner also paraded Yusuf Abdulkareem (male, 22) and Jaiyeola Fatai (female, 40), who alongside others now at large, allegedly stoned an innocent farmer wrongly suspected to be the killer of Akao and severely damaged his car parked inside police station.

“In a separate incident, an innocent individual, a farmer, was mistakenly targeted and pursued by villagers and motorcycle operators (Okada riders) who wrongly suspected him of his involvement in this crime.

“While this individual sought refuge at the Oke-Oyi Police Division, his vehicle, which was lawfully parked, was stoned and severely damaged by Yusuf Abdulkareem (male, 22), Jaiyeola Fatai (female, 40) and others at large. Both individuals have been apprehended and formally charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Disturbance of Public Peace, Causing Grievous Hurt, and Mischief. They will be arraigned in court accordingly.

“We want to emphasize that this farmer has no connection whatsoever to the ongoing homicide investigation. We strongly urge the public to refrain from engaging in hasty actions or disseminating unverified information, as these actions may endanger innocent lives and constitute serious infractions. Law enforcement agents will take decisive action against any individual or group engaging in vigilantism or causing public disorder.”