The family of Taofiki Mustapha, who died in police custody in Osun State, has called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death at Agbeye Police Post.
The family made the appeal in a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police at the Zone XI Command headquarters in Osogbo, demanding that those suspected of being involved be investigated.
A report had earlier revealed that Mustapha, a husband of four wives and father of seven children, was found dead inside a police cell after being accused of stealing cocoa pods. He was reportedly apprehended by members of the Agbeye community and handed over to the police.
The Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that community members took Mustapha to the town’s traditional ruler, who subsequently directed them to hand him over to the police.
The deceased’s relatives, including members of the Ogboni traditional society, are now seeking answers over the incident.
In a petition submitted through their solicitors, L.S Bello & Co., the family called for an investigation into the roles allegedly played by Agbeye Police Post, Mufu Jimoh, Wasiu Egbebi, Taye Olaoye, Chief Ajasa and the Kabiyesi of Agbeye.
The petition stated that Mustapha was accused of stealing 13 cocoa pods and allegedly beaten before the traditional ruler directed that he be taken to the police post.
The family also questioned the allegation of theft, insisting that it had not been established that the deceased actually stole the cocoa pods.
The petition read in part, “That Taofiki Mustapha was alleged to have stolen 13 cocoa pods, and the above-named people beat the said Taofiki Mustapha, and the Kabiyesi Alagbeye of Agbeye directed that Taofiki Mustapha be taken to the police post after the beating.
“That, our clients state further that Taofiki Mustapha died inside the cell of Police Post Agbeye.
“Our clients state that investigation is yet to confirm that the deceased truly stole the cocoa pods.”
Providing an update on the petition, the Zone XI Police Public Relations Officer, Olanrewaju Ojedele, disclosed that two suspects had been invited to make statements and were later released.
“Two suspects, Kabiyesi and one other person, have been invited, and they wrote statements on the issue. They were released thereafter.
“We are waiting for the postmortem result to know the other facts. The result will assist the police in unravelling the circumstances surrounding the death,” he said.
Ojedele further explained that the incident occurred on Monday, October 5, when Mustapha was accused of stealing cocoa pods.
“On Monday, October 5, he (Taofiki) was accused of stealing cocoa pods. He was beaten and paraded around the Agbeye community half-naked, and he was filmed half-naked.
“A man was ordered to hand over the accused to the police at Agbeye Police Post, and the accused was received by the police officer on duty. Unfortunately, the accused was found dead the following morning under suspicious circumstances.
“The corpse has been deposited at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital. A postmortem examination has been done, and they are awaiting the results,” he said.
The police said the postmortem result would help establish the circumstances surrounding Mustapha’s death, as investigations into the incident continue.
