Suspects
Justice for Samuel: CP Oyo State Police Command Fingers In Alleged Corruption, Amidst Kidnapping Case
A disturbing series of events involving a brutal kidnapping, a botched police investigation, and alleged corruption within the Oyo State Police Force has raised serious concerns about law enforcement practices in the state.
The incident, which occurred in the Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State on November 22, 2024, has put the spotlight on Commissioner of Police (CP) Adewale Sonubi after the suspects in the case were repeatedly granted bail despite clear evidence of their involvement in a violent crime.
On Friday, 22nd November 2024, Mr. Dada Samuel, a labourer working on a plot of land in Ido Local Government Area, was attacked by a group of armed assailants. The attackers macheted Samuel and kidnapped him, taking him to an unknown location where he was held for over five hours. The incident was promptly reported to the Ido Police Division, where an official statement was taken from the victim.
However, the case took a strange twist when the suspects allegedly brought Samuel to the police station, claiming that he was the one who had attacked them. Six individuals were arrested and detained in connection with the crime. As the case escalated, it was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday, November 25, 2024.
Despite the seriousness of the crime, the investigation soon took a controversial turn. According to sources close to the case, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) initially ordered that the suspects be detained, but in a surprising move, the suspects were granted bail on the direct orders of Commissioner Sonubi. This decision sparked outrage among the complainants, who questioned why the suspects were released so quickly.
In response to the complaints, CP Sonubi convened a meeting on Tuesday, November 26,2024, where he listened to both sides of the story. After hearing the evidence and the victim’s account, the Commissioner reportedly instructed that the suspects be returned to detention and face prosecution the following morning.
However, just hours later, in an unexpected development, the suspects were released again. When the complainants questioned why this was happening, they were informed that the order for the release came directly from Commissioner Sonubi. The suspects were supposedly to be presented at the police command the following day, with plans to take them to court. Yet, instead of being prosecuted, the suspects were free to continue their criminal activities.
Even more concerning, the suspects, despite being released from custody, allegedly went in search of the victim, Mr. Dada Samuel, with the apparent intention of eliminating him. As of the latest reports, the suspects are still at large, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
The complainants, frustrated by the apparent miscarriage of justice, h