Gbenro Adesina
Days after the killing of another victim on Thursday, August 13 2020, in Akinyele Local Government area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, has confirmed that the prime suspect in the serial killings in the area, Sunday Shodipe, had escaped from custody.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Fadeyi Olugbenga, the 19 year old man, who was arrested and paraded along with two others at the Oyo State Police Command on July 17, 2020 and later charged to court but remanded in Police custody, escaped from police custody on August 11, 2020.
The statement read in part, “Consequent upon this, the CP wishes to implore the general public to be on the lookout, arrest and immediately inform the Officers and men of the Command when sighted for immediate handing over for further action. He further seizes this opportunity to appeal to any member of the public with credible information as to the where about of the assailant not to hesitate in passing same to the Oyo State Police Command to assist in the apprehension of the offender who is now at large.
“The CP wishes to unequivocally state that, the Command is committed to the protection of lives and properties of the good people of Oyo State. He therefore assures that adequate security measures have been emplaced to enable all and sundry transact their lawful businesses in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, move from one place to another without any fear or molestation from any individual or groups as he sternly warns criminal elements to steer clear of Oyo State.
“He further advice angry youths/mobs from taking laws into their hands by carrying out jungle justice when suspected criminals are arrested, but such suspect(s) should be handed over to the Police”.
However, people in the area are skeptical of whether to believe that it is the escapee suspect, Sunday Shodipe, that is responsible for the killings in the area. Some of the residents, who believe that ritualists are on the prowl in the area, call on the State Government to help find a lasting solution to the issue of security in the area.
It would be recalled that Akinyele Local Government area recorded a number of killings in the past few months.
