• Says state NURTW remained proscribed
The Oyo State Police on Friday said it has arrested a serial rapist and murderers including fraudsters in the state.
Addressing journalists at the state command headquarter, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Shina Olukolu allayed fear of citizens of the state especially in these ember months coupled with the police efforts at combating crimes and criminality in the period.
While parading the arrested suspects, the commissioner noted that the suspects were involved in two relevant cases which is an indication of the desperation of the criminals in in the state to make ill gotten money at all cost.
According to him, the first suspects were arrested for rape and murder of one Toyin Olubowale, a woman aged 35yrs saying on 9th September, 2019 at about 1630hrs, the case was reported at Akobo Divisional Police Headquarters, Akobo Ibadan, and was later transferred to the Criminal investigation Department, Iyaganku Ibadan for discreet investigation.
Narrating the story, Olukolu said: “On 29th August, 2019 at about 1400hrs, a 20 year old, Gbolahan Ismaila boarded a commercial motorcycle which was ridden by one Joel Musa to No. 15 road 3 Ogidi Estate Ibadan. He alighted and entered the house of Toyin Olubowale whom he sexually assaulted and subsequently smashed her head with a wooden stool which led to her death before he made away with her A32F itel Android cell phone.
“When the commercial motorcyclist returned him to Oju-Irin, Akobo Area of Ibadan, he noticed a wound and blood stains on Gbolahan’s fingers on the right hand and he became suspicious due to unusual sound he heard from the house while he was outside. Hence, he went back to the house and met people crying over the death of the deceased. He thereafter informed the people that he knew the suspect who killed the deceased and that he brought him to the house earlier in the day.
“As a result, Joel Musa was promptly arrested and handed over to the police. His arrest led to the apprehension of the principal suspect who carried out the dastardly act. On his interrogation, Gbolahan confessed to the crime and two other suspects, one Oyedeji Blessing, aged 22yrs who received the stolen phone and one other Oyekola Mumini, a GSM repairer, who assisted to flash and destroy evidence on the phone were arrested and are being prepared for prosecution.
CP Olukolu said the second matter was arrest of fraudsters saying on the 9th September 2019 at about 1340hrs, one Gafari Taiwo from Yemetu Alawada Area of Ibadan came to the Divisional Police headquarters, Yemetu Ibadan and reported that at about 1100hrs of same date, his elder sister one Gafari Suliat of same address sent him on an errand to deposit the sum of N15,000 at Stanbic IBTC bank while she also gave him her ATM card to equally check her account after he must have made the deposit. He stated further that at a point at Total filling station at Total garden road, Ibadan, a man who was later identified as Tunde Ganiyu who pretended to be a pastor approached him and prophesized that he had a problem. At that point he took him to Oranyan area of Ibadan where he collected the sum of N15, 000 naira cash and ATM card owned by Gafari Suliat from him and used the ATM card to withdraw the sum of #93,000 and another #50,000 through POS and #43,000 from ATM machine.
Meanwhile, an Okada rider, one Tunde Ganiyu, a member of the syndicate was beckoned upon to assist him to purchase salt at Iwo road to complete his ritual rites. He became conscious of himself while on the way and he alerted the people thereby leading to the arrest of Tunde Ganiyu.
The principal suspect who collected the ATM card from the victim, one Omoola Adeyanju from Oke Oleyo Oranyan area of Ibadan and Tajudeen Akintunde from same Oranyan area in Ibadan who is the chairman of the syndicate were later arrested and the sum of N28,000 only was recovered from them. Effort is on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang, the CP stated.
The Commissioner of Police therefore drawn the attention of the ordinary citizens to the antics and fraudulent acts of the criminals in the state.
He said: “their modus operandi is premised on deceit, false prophecy, fake power of clairvoyance, dubious identification and outright lies with a view of taking advantage of their targeted victims who are usually vulnerable and young persons or minors.
“Hence, once there is any iota of doubt, do not allow strangers access to your premises under whatever guise no matter how plausible”, the CP warned.
He continued: “In addition, citizens should be careful and conscious of their environment and refuse unsolicited offer of assistance, as it might be a ploy by the sweet tongue fraudsters to hoodwink you into misery.
“The Police will however, continue to be on the lookout for these types of criminally minded individuals in our midst and deal with them in accordance with the law as the yuletide season approaches. The Police however, require the support of the people to serve the society better, please”, The CP said.
While allaying members of the public on dangers inherent in the ember months, Olukolu said: “Hence, with all sense of responsibility, I want to use this medium to assure the members of the public of our preparedness to protect life and property before, during and after this Yuletide period.
“I equally want to sternly warn criminals who feel Oyo State can be a safe haven to have a rethink and relocate out of the State as the long arms of the law will surely catch up with them. Since there is also collaboration amongst the sisters’ security agencies in the state therefore no individuals or groups should attempt to test our collective will as all criminally minded persons apprehended will be decisively dealt with.
“I also wish to state categorically that NURTW activities in Oyo State remained unrecognized and proscribed. Consequently, whoever disturbs the peace and security being enjoyed by the good people of Oyo State will be apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.
“I implore all the good citizens of Oyo State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation from any quarters while they are to always make use of the two emergency control room numbers in case of any distress situation viz: 07055495413 and 08081768614. The people are also enjoined to continue to partner with the Police, collaborate and support us with very useful and timely credible information to enable us serve the community better”, he said.
