By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the death of a man identified simply as Segun during the 2023 communal crisis involving Offa-Igbo, Iyana Offa and neighbouring communities, along the Oyo–Osun border.
DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the development at the Command’s headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan and at the crime scene.
The command’s public relations officer said one of the suspects, Rabiu Yusuf, allegedly killed the victim during the communal violence and subsequently buried his body in a shallow grave in a bid to conceal the crime.
He said this while on inspection of the crime scene with journalists to ascertain the level of damage.
He added that the deceased’s mobile phone was allegedly thrown into a river, while his motorcycle was sold, all in what investigators believe was an attempt to erase traces of the incident.
Ayanlade explained that the breakthrough came after Yusuf was recently arrested in connection with another violent incident in the same axis, where he allegedly shot another victim during a fresh communal disagreement.
During interrogation, the suspect was said to have confessed to the earlier killing of Segun and gave details of how the incident happened.
The PPRO said the confession led operatives to intensify investigation into the matter, resulting in the arrest of another suspect believed to be connected to the crime.
Meanwhile, the suspect claimed that he acted in self-defence. He alleged that the deceased attacked him first during the crisis, forcing him to respond. The police, however, said his claims are being investigated as part of efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding the killing.
