VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update
THE Ondo State Police Command, on Tuesday, said it has arrested two suspects who allegedly stoned a 35-year-old man, Olorunfemi Tope, to death in Akure.
It was reported on Monday that Tope was killed by an angry mob for alleged reckless driving leading to a road crash that occurred in the Ijoka Area of Akure, the state capital.
The accident resulted in the death of two persons and injured six others.
The Irate mob had allegedly beaten and stoned Tope to death and set his car ablaze.
The state police command spokesperson, SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami, while featuring on a live radio programme on Tuesday, said police detectives had arrested two suspects over their allegedly jungle justice meted out on Tope.
The programme, monitored by a NAN Correspondent in Akure, quoted Odunlami as saying that one of the two arrested suspects allegedly masterminded the burning of Tope’s car.
The command’s image maker, who said that the suspects would be charged to court for murder and arson, appealed to members of the public never to take laws into their hands.
“We need to see ourselves as one and love each other. We should first see ourselves as human beings before becoming either a commercial motorcyclist, policeman or any other professionals.
“As of now, no one can confirm if the dead young man in question was an internet fraudster.
“Rather than people around to have helped when the accident happened, some resolved to jungle justice by killing the young man and setting his car ablaze.
“We need to refrain from engaging in jungle justice, shun hearsay and report any incident to nearby police station so that there will be peace in our community,” she said.
ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT CAUTIONS AGAINST JUNGLE JUSTICE
The attention of the Ondo State Government has been drawn to a disturbing recourse to jungle justice by the public. This is especially true when citizens are attacked, and killed, based on one flimsy excuse or the other, especially on allegations of Internet scam, laced with ritual killing, commonly referred to as Yahoo Plus.
The Ag. Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa has expressed shock and disbelief, on the recent mob attack that led to the stoning to death of 35-year old Tope Olorunfemi at Ijoka Area of Akure. The young man, riding in a Toyota car, reportedly ran into a motorcyclist and his passenger, resulting in some fatalities. The government condemns in strong terms the incident and said all those found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of law.
While government does not condone criminality in whatever guise, it also does not subscribe to people taking laws into their hands. It was reported, that the quick intervention of law enforcement agents, saved the parents of the deceased from suffering the same fate as their son. Sadly, they watched in horror and total helplessness as their son was pummeled to death.
His Excellency, Hon. Ayedatiwa urges Ondo State citizens to have trust in the rule of law, as government will not condone any form of mob action and hooliganism in the administration of Justice in Ondo State.
The government is saddened by this development and commiserates with all the families that lost their loved ones as a result of this incident while praying for quick recovery for those that sustained injuries.
Signed:
Bamidele Ademola-Olateju
Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation.