Police in Ogun state have arrested three men accused of beating a 23-year-old man to death over an alleged phone theft.
The three suspects, who are all residents of Iju Ota, were arrested after father of the victim, Mr Ajibade Gbenga, rushed to Onipanu Police Divisional Headquarters to report that his son, Samuel, had been accused of stealing two mobile phones and was being beaten.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday, January 24.
Oyeyemi identified the suspects, who were arrested on January 21, as Ugo Obi, Chinonso Jude, and Chibuke Samson.
According to the spokesperson, the suspects beat Samuel up till he lost consciousness after accusing him of stealing the phones.
Oyeyemi said after the complaint by the victim’s father, Chief Superintendent of Police in the division, Bamidele Job, led his detectives to the scene and arrested the suspects.
The young man involved was rushed to General Hospital in Ota for medical attention but was confirmed dead on arrival by a doctor.
The police spokesperson revealed that if not for the intervention of the police, an angry crowd would have lynched them after realising that the young man was dead.
Oyeyemi said an investigation has been started by the police after which those charged will be prosecuted, adding that;
The Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Awolowo-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 diligent prosecution.
He expressed that the police commissioner warned that the command will not tolerate any form of jungle justice in the state.
Rather than take laws into their hands, Oyeyemi urged members of the public to always report anyone suspected to have committed a crime to the law enforcement agency for proper investigation and prosecution.
Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased has been moved to the General Hospital’s mortuary for post mortem examination.
