Joy Anyim
Three friends have been arrested by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly beating a 23-year-old man, Samuel Ajibade, to death over a suspected phone theft.
It was learnt that the trio had accused the deceased of stealing two phones from a shop, and subsequently launched an attack on him, which resulted in his death.
According to the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, the father of the deceased, Ajibade Gbenga, reported the matter at the Onipanu Police Division.
Abimbola identified the suspects as Ugo Obi, Chinonso Jude, and Chibuike Samson, all of MTN Street, Iju-Ota.
He said, “Samuel was alleged to have stolen two handsets by the suspects, consequent upon which the three suspects jointly beat him to state of comma. The deceased was rushed to the General Hospital Ota for medical attention but was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Bamidele Job, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), led his detectives to the scene where the three suspects were quickly arrested.
“It was the quick response of the police that saved the suspects from being lynched by angry mob who had gathered after hearing that the victim had died.
The corpse of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital Ota Mortuary for post mortem examination. The Commissioner of Police (CP) Edward Ajogun has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the homicide section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and deligent prosecution.”
The PPRO stated further that the CP has warned that the command will not tolerate any form of jungle justice, and has appealed to members of public to always report anyone suspected to have committed a crime to the law enforcement agency for proper investigation and prosecution rather than taking laws into their own hands.