The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man, Abiodun Oniyide, for forcing a suspected motorcycle thief to drink poison at Oke-Odan, Yewa South Local Government Area.
The suspect, popularly known as Aje Alaje, was arrested in Ihunbo after he reportedly forced Timothy Ashamu, 26, to drink the poisonous substance after he was identified as being responsible for dispossessing one Vincent Adetunji of his Bajaj motorcycle along Agosu road, Oke-Odan, in October.
Oluseyi Babaseyi, the command’s spokesperson, in a statement on Monday, said Ashamu was attacked by Oniyide and two others on a farm in the area, adding that the other two suspects are at large.
The police said Ashamu, who was rescued by detectives from the Owode-Yewa Divisional Police Headquarters, had confessed to stealing about three motorcycles, using cutlasses, sticks and hammers to dispossess victims. He was rushed to a hospital, where he is said to be responding well to treatment.
The command added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Police Condemns Jungle Justice
The police condemned the alleged act of jungle justice, stressing that the suspicion of criminal involvement did not give anyone the right to take the law into their hands. It maintained that the protection of human life remained a fundamental responsibility of the police, irrespective of the allegations against an individual.
It said that suspects should be subjected to lawful arrest, investigation and prosecution rather than mob action, torture or other forms of extrajudicial punishment.
The command urged residents to report criminal activities to the appropriate authorities and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
