Ex-RTEAN Ekiti chairman, aide nabbed over alleged assault, killing

Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State, Michael Falade.

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a former chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Rotimi Olabiowonu, and one of his alleged followers, Opeyemi Adedoyin, over the alleged assault and abduction of a 45-year-old man, Sunday Ogunsakin, who subsequently died.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Michael Falade, has also ordered a discreet and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ogunsakin’s alleged assault, abduction and death.

The incident was said to have stemmed from a land dispute involving the deceased and the suspects.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.

Abutu said the incident occurred at about 8:45pm on Monday, when Olabiowonu and about five accomplices allegedly arrived at Ogunsakin’s residence in a Toyota bus.

He said the suspects allegedly dragged Ogunsakin out of his residence, assaulted him and whisked him away in the vehicle.

The PPRO stated, “According to the report, while the vehicle was in motion, the suspects pushed the victim out of the moving vehicle, causing him to sustain severe head injuries.

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“Upon noticing the seriousness of his condition, the suspects allegedly took him to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital for medical attention. However, he was subsequently confirmed dead by the medical doctor on duty.”

Abutu said following the report, police operatives commenced an investigation, visited the scene and launched efforts to apprehend all those allegedly involved.

He added that Olabiowonu and Adedoyin had been arrested and were in police custody, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the other suspects who were still at large.

The PPRO said the CP had directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case and conduct a comprehensive investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring all those found culpable to justice.

The CP, while calling for calm, urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands but to report disputes, suspicious activities and criminal incidents promptly to the police or other relevant authorities.

The command reiterated that disputes, particularly those involving land, should be resolved through lawful and peaceful means.

It assured members of the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and impartially in accordance with the law.