The Kwara State Police Command has presented six suspects, five men and one woman, allegedly involved in crimes including culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, public disturbance, and mischief.
Speaking to journalists during the suspects’ parade on Thursday, the State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, stated 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 beheading 34-year-old Rafiu Akao on Monday, 4 November 2024.
The police chief explained that the tragic homicide took place in the Asunlere community of Oke Oyi, Ilorin, the state capital. Local residents reported the discovery of a headless body near a stream to the Oke-Oyi Police Division at approximately 9:00 pm on Monday.
“Upon receiving this report, detectives were promptly deployed to the scene. Photographic evidence revealed severe trauma around the neck, suggesting decapitation. The body was subsequently removed and taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital morgue pending an autopsy.
“At the crime scene, detectives found an Itel Android phone, suspected to belong to one of the perpetrators, along with a motorcycle believed to be the property of the deceased. Further search led to the discovery of the deceased’s phone on his person,” Olaiya said.
The Commissioner further explained that the detectives’ efforts yielded results in the early hours of 6 November 2024, with the apprehension of the three suspects—Peter Samuel, Jeremiah Tiozinda, and Sunday Agbenke—at different locations.
“The suspects confessed to committing the crime. The recovered Android phone was confirmed as belonging to Peter Samuel, who had planned to flee the state. During interrogation, they disclosed that they had disposed of the victim’s severed head in a nearby river.”
The command stated that efforts to recover evidence are ongoing, and that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation before formal arraignment.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner also presented Yusuf Abdulkareem (male, 22) and Jaiyeola Fatai (female, 40), who, along with others still at large, allegedly stoned an innocent farmer mistakenly suspected to be the killer of Akao and caused significant damage to his car parked at the police station.
“In a separate incident, a farmer was wrongly targeted and pursued by villagers and motorcycle operators (Okada riders), who falsely accused him of involvement in this crime.
“When the farmer sought refuge at the Oke-Oyi Police Division, his vehicle, legally parked outside, was stoned and severely damaged by Yusuf Abdulkareem, Jaiyeola Fatai, and others now at large. Both individuals have been apprehended and charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Public Disturbance, Causing Grievous Harm, and Mischief. They will face trial accordingly.
“We emphasise that this farmer has no connection whatsoever to the homicide investigation. We strongly urge the public to refrain from taking hasty action or spreading unverified information, as these actions can endanger innocent lives and constitute serious offences. Law enforcement will take decisive action against any individual or group engaging in vigilantism or disrupting public order.”