Osun man’s death sparks arson, police nab 10

The death of a man, identified simply as Toheeb, whose body was allegedly dumped in an abandoned well in Ikirun, Osun State, has sparked violence in the community, with the police arresting 10 suspects over the alleged murder and the burning of houses belonging to some suspects.

Sources within the community where the incident occurred said Toheeb was allegedly killed by the suspects, who subsequently concealed his corpse in a well.

A resident of the community, who craved anonymity for security reasons, said Toheeb was accused of theft and apprehended by some residents, who beat him before he later fled the scene.

“But a local security volunteer, whom we usually address as Gani, chased the suspect, eventually caught him and allegedly killed him. When Toheeb was initially caught and beaten, one of his relatives was passing by and saw how he was assaulted. However, the person who witnessed the incident did not know that Toheeb was later killed.

“After the deceased’s relatives waited for him to return home but did not see him, they started going to the houses of those they had seen participating in the beating. That was how Gani was eventually identified as the person who chased Toheeb and allegedly killed him.

“After he had been killed, Gani and some other people in the area dumped the body in an abandoned well and covered it with sand.

Some people who were displeased with the incident later mobilised to the house of the prime suspect and razed it.

“They also went to some houses belonging to Gani’s relatives and set them ablaze. The police have already made some arrests regarding the two incidents,” the resident said.

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When contacted for confirmation, the Osun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, told PUNCH during a telephone interview that Ganiyu Adeoye and five others had been arrested in connection with the murder.

Ojelabi also said Toheeb had been missing for some days before his corpse was discovered in an abandoned well, adding that it took police operatives and others who assisted them more than five hours to retrieve the body.

“We have arrested the following persons in connection with the alleged murder of Toheeb. They are Azeez Rasheed, Afolayan Sodiq, Ganiyu Adeoye, Oguntoye Isiak, Kosamotu Asmiu and Kehinde Sunday.

“Toheeb was missing for some days until his corpse was discovered. One suspect is still at large, and we are on the lookout for him.

“Unfortunately, sympathisers took the law into their own hands. They went into the community and set some houses belonging to some of the suspects ablaze.

“We have arrested four suspects in connection with the arson. Our officers are on the ground to ensure everywhere is calm and there is no breakdown of law and order.

“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation, and the corpse of the deceased has been retrieved,” the PPRO said.