The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested 43-year-old Edebiri Temitope for allegedly beating his neighbour, Micheal Oje, to death with a bamboo stick after accusing him of hugging his son in Bluestone Treasure Estate, Mowe-Ofada area of the state.
The deceased, 38-year-old Micheal Oje, was a Guidance and Counselling graduate of Benue State University. He was reportedly attacked on August 26 after he was accused of hugging and playing with the suspect’s three-year-old son.
According to Peter Adum, a younger cousin of the deceased, Micheal had just returned from work when the child, who lived on the same street, ran towards him and hugged him.
Adum said Micheal hugged the boy, playfully tossed him into the air and caught him before retiring to his room to sleep.
Adum said, “While he was sleeping, Adebiri, the father of the boy, came outside and knocked on his door. When Mike came out, the man accused him of playing roughly with his child. Mike explained that he had only hugged the boy and lifted him into the air.
“That was how the man then started slapping Mike. He picked up a bamboo stick from the ground and hit him about three times. Mike fell and died on the spot.”
The suspect was reported to have gone into hiding with his family.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi on Friday, said the suspect had been arrested and transferred to the State CID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
“Edebiri Temitope, ‘M’, aged 43 years, who was earlier reported to be at large, has been arrested in connection with the death of Oje Michael Eje, ‘M’.
“The suspect has been transferred to the State CID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation,” Babaseyi stated.