The relatives of the late Lukmon Ajibola, who was beaten to death on Monday, February 5, at Ilepa in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State have raised the alarm over the release of a suspect, Kolawole Akinsanya, from police custody.
The Ogun State Police Command arrested and put Akinsanya in protective custody for allegedly conspiring with hoodlums to beat Ajibola to death.
A goat belonging to the deceased was said to have strayed into the compound of Akinsanya and ate his dried yam. This was said to have infuriated Akinsanya who allegedly killed the animal in the process.
In his reaction, Ajibola was reported to have confronted Akinsanya over his action which a source said resulted in an argument whereby the latter allegedly invited some thugs who went to attack the former. The source said Ajibola became unconscious after the attack and later died in the hospital.
The Ogun State Police Command, however, confirmed the arrest and detention of the suspect, adding that efforts were under way to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday, a relative of the deceased said Akinsanya was seen walking freely in the community on Sunday morning.
The relative who craved anonymity claimed the police had refused to charge the suspect to court as promised.
“The police have failed us again. Akinsanya has been released from custody and we learnt he was freed after paying some amount of money to the police. So, human life is so cheap in this country. He was walking freely on the street this morning with his friends. He is planning to throw a welcome party next weekend. This is shameful. The police authorities need to intervene. This can’t be tolerated.”
A source in the community had told PUNCH Metro after the incident that Akinsanya had bragged that he would return the way someone who lived two streets away returned after killing another person in the same circumstance the previous year.
The source added that Akinsanya’s colleagues were mobilising funds to secure his release and make the police cover up the case. They were also said to have prevented the police from arresting the three other suspects.
Reiterating the claim, the relative said, “A man called Sunday allegedly killed his neighbour in this area last year and he was arrested and handed over to the police by the community. But he was later released after parting with a huge amount. This was what Akinsanya relied on that he would also be released after bribing the police.
“The police had pressured the wife of the deceased to accept monetary compensation after receiving a bribe from Akinsanya’s colleagues. The matter was not charged to court as promised by the PPRO. That is one of the reasons why people take to jungle justice most times,” the relative added.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, denied knowledge of the suspect’s release. She said, “I will have to check about that.”
She had yet to reply as of the time this report was filed.
