The Kwara State Police Command has apprehended three suspects in connection with the brutal murder and beheading of a motorcyclist, identified as 34-year-old Rafiu Akano, in the Asunlere area of Oke Oyi, Ilorin.
The suspects, Peter Samuel (38), Jeremiah Tiozinda (26), and Sunday Agbenke (40), were arrested following an intensive investigation into the incident, which has shocked residents and led to heightened security measures in the area.
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, revealed that the incident occurred on the night of November 4, 2024, when Akano was attacked by the suspects, who had allegedly planned to rob him of his motorcycle.
”This was a horrific act of criminality,” CP Olaiya stated during a press briefing, emphasising the command’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
According to CP Olaiya, the police first became aware of the incident when three local residents—Abdulrasheed Ola Sheu, Ismail Muhammed, and others—reported the discovery of a headless body near a stream.
Detectives promptly responded, securing photographic evidence and recovering an Itel Android phone suspected to belong to one of the attackers, as well as a motorcycle identified as the victim’s.
Further investigation led to the identification and arrest of the suspects on November 6.
During questioning, Peter Samuel and Jeremiah Tiozinda admitted to the crime, detailing their violent actions and revealing that they had disposed of the victim’s severed head in a nearby river. Efforts to recover this crucial piece of evidence are ongoing.
In an interview with journalists, Samuel recounted how Agbenke, identified as the mastermind, recruited him for the planned robbery.
“Agbenke told me that the Okada rider had recently bought a new bike and suggested we kill him to steal it. We thought we could sell the bike for a good price,” Samuel confessed.
He added that during the attack, a vigilante group unexpectedly intervened, forcing the suspects to flee into the bush and abandon their plan to steal the bike.
The suspects are currently in custody with the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), which is overseeing the ongoing investigation.
They will face arraignment as the case progresses.
CP Olaiya urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperative with law enforcement, affirming that every resource would be deployed to ensure justice for the victim.
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