Ogun Residents Force Suspected Motorcycle Thief To Drink Poisonous Substance

A suspected motorcycle thief, Timothy Ashamu, has reportedly been forced to drink a poisonous substance by some residents of Oke-Odan in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Police Command said Ashamu was accused of robbing one Adetunji Vincent of his Bajaj motorcycle along Agosu Road, Oke-Odan, in October.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, adding that further investigations revealed that Ashamu allegedly confessed to stealing more than three motorcycles.

According to Babaseyi, the suspect reportedly used hammers, sticks and cutlasses to dispossess his victims of their motorcycles.

He, however, said the suspect was later accosted at a farm in Oke-Odan by three individuals who allegedly forced him to ingest a substance suspected to be Gamaline.

Describing the incident as retaliatory, the police spokesperson said detectives from the Owode-Yewa Division swiftly responded after receiving a report, rescued Ashamu and rushed him to a hospital in Owode-Yewa.

“He is currently receiving treatment and responding,” Babaseyi said.

He added that detectives, acting on information provided by the victim, proceeded to Ihunbo, where they arrested one Abiodun Oniyide, popularly known as Aje Alaje.

According to him, Ashamu subsequently identified Oniyide as one of the individuals allegedly involved in forcing him to ingest the substance.

The police spokesperson said a container suspected to have contained Gamaline was recovered as an exhibit.

He added that the arrested suspect remained in custody, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other individuals allegedly involved in the incident.

Babaseyi further disclosed that the case was being prepared for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for discreet investigation.

The command urged residents to report criminal activities to the police rather than resort to jungle justice.

It stressed that suspected criminals must be subjected to lawful arrest, investigation and prosecution, warning that no individual has the right to administer punishment through retaliation, torture or attempted murder.

“The protection of human life is not conditional on a person’s innocence or perceived character. Even where a person is suspected of serious criminal offences, the law does not permit private individuals to determine or administer punishment,” Babaseyi said.