The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a masquerade identified as Asoleke over the alleged killing of a 24-year-old man, Sefiu Kehinde, during a masquerade procession in the Labiran area of Ibadan.
The incident, which has sparked concern among residents, is currently under investigation, with the police intensifying efforts to apprehend four other suspects believed to have participated in the fatal attack.
According to the police, the incident was reported at the Mapo Divisional Police Headquarters after the victim’s sister alerted authorities that Kehinde had been attacked by the masquerade and several of its followers while the procession was ongoing.
Preliminary findings indicate that the victim was allegedly assaulted with dangerous weapons, including axes and cutlasses, resulting in severe injuries to different parts of his body.
Following the report, operatives from the Mapo Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, immediately responded to the scene. The injured man was rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending medical personnel.
Police officers subsequently secured and processed the crime scene, documenting relevant evidence as part of the ongoing investigation before releasing the body to the family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
The command confirmed that the principal suspect, identified as Asoleke, has been taken into custody. However, four other individuals alleged to have taken part in the attack remain at large, and a manhunt has been launched to bring them to justice.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing and to establish the roles played by all those involved.
The police assured residents that no effort would be spared in tracking down the fleeing suspects and ensuring that everyone connected to the incident is brought before the law.
The command also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators by providing credible and timely information that could assist in locating the remaining suspects.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining law and order, the Oyo State Police Command stated that it would continue to take decisive action against all forms of violence and criminality across the state, warning that anyone found responsible for acts capable of threatening public peace would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
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