The Kwara State Police Command has unveiled six suspects, five males and a female, for alleged involvement in offenses verging on culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, unsettling influence of public peace and underhandedness.

Speaking with journalists during the unveiling of the suspects on Thursday, the state Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, said that three of the suspects, identified as Peter Samuel (male), Jeremiah Tiozinda (male) and Sunday Agbenke (male), were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly killing and severing head of a 34 years old Rafiu Akao on Monday, November 4, 2024.

The police chief, who said that the lamentable homicide incident happened in the Asunlere community of Oke Oyi, Ilorin, the state capital, added that residents of the area reported at Oke-Oyi Police Division at around 9:00 pm on Monday the discovery of a headless body lying near a stream inside the area.

“After getting this report, detectives were quickly dispatched to the scene. Photographic evidence was captured, uncovering a significant mark of viciousness around the neck, indicating that the head was cut off. The body was hence cleared and kept at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital morgue, pending an autopsy.

“At the crime scene, detectives recuperated an Itel Android phone, which was suspected to belong to one of the assailants, as well as a bike believed to be the deceased’s property. Further pursuit uncovered that the deceased’s phone was likewise tracked down on him.”

It was said by the Police chief that efforts of detectives to recognize and apprehend the culprits yielded results in the early hours of November 6, 2024 as three suspects; Peter Samuel (Male ), Jeremiah Tiozinda (Male) and Sunday Agbenke (Male) were apprehended at independent locations.

“The suspect admitted to committing the crime. Furthermore, the recuperated Android phone was affirmed to belong to a suspect, Peter Samuel, who was planning to flee from the state. During cross examination, the suspects uncovered that they discarded of the victim’s severed head in a nearby river”.

The command said that efforts were on to recuperate the evidence, adding that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for exhaustive investigation before subsequent arraignment in court.

In the mean time, the Commissioner likewise paraded Yusuf Abdulkareem (male, 22) and Jaiyeola Fatai (female, 40), who alongside others now at large, purportedly stoned an innocent farmer wrongly suspected to be the killer of Akao and seriously damaged his vehicle parked inside police station.

“In a different incident, an innocent individual, a farmer, was erroneously targeted and sought after by villagers and motorcycle operators (Okada riders) who wrongly suspected him of his involvement in this wrongdoing.

“While this individual looked for shelter at the Oke-Oyi Police Division, his vehicle, which was lawfully parked, was stoned and seriously damaged by Yusuf Abdulkareem (male, 22), Jaiyeola Fatai (female, 40) and others at large. The two people have been captured and officially charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Disturbance of Public Peace, Causing Grievous Hurt, and Mischief. They will be charged in court appropriately.

“We need to emphasize that this farmer has no connection at all to the ongoing homicide investigation. We emphatically ask the public to shun from taking part in hasty actions or disseminating unsubstantiated information, as these actions might imperil innocent lives and constitute serious infractions. Law enforcement agents will take decisive action against any individual or group engaging in vigilantism or causing public disorder.”