The Oyo State Police Command has commenced a full-scale investigation into the alleged death of 24-year-old Sefiu Kehinde, who was reportedly attacked by a masquerade during a parade in the Labiran area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Police authorities confirmed that one suspect, identified as the Asoleke masquerade, has been taken into custody over the incident. They added that four other individuals believed to have been involved are currently on the run, with efforts underway to apprehend them.
The incident has reignited public concerns over the recurring violence linked to some traditional masquerade processions, which have led to several cases of injuries and deaths in different parts of the country in recent years.
In a statement released on Monday, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the incident was reported at the Mapo Divisional Police Headquarters on Sunday by a woman identified simply as Mrs. Aderemi.
According to the police statement, the complainant said she learned about the attack through a phone call from her elder sister.
The command stated that officers swiftly responded to the report and immediately took the injured victim to a hospital for urgent medical attention.
The statement explained that the complainant received a distress call at about 4:00 p.m. on the day of the incident, informing her that the Asoleke masquerade and its followers allegedly attacked her younger brother, Sefiu Kehinde, while parading through the Labiran area of Ibadan. The assailants were said to have used axes and cutlasses, leaving the victim with severe injuries to different parts of his body.
The police said a team of officers led by the Divisional Police Officer of the Mapo Division promptly moved to the scene after receiving the report.
According to the statement, the victim was rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor on duty.
The police command said investigators examined the crime scene and completed the necessary procedures before releasing the victim’s body to his family for burial.
According to the statement, officers documented the scene and took photographs, after which the deceased’s relatives requested and received permission to bury the body in line with Islamic rites.
The command also disclosed that the prime suspect in the case has been arrested as investigations into the incident continue.
The police said the Asoleke masquerade, identified as the principal suspect, has been taken into custody, while four of his alleged accomplices remain on the run.
The statement also revealed that the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to allow for a more detailed investigation.
The police command assured residents that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the incident and appealed to the public to support the investigation.
The statement urged members of the public to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist security operatives in tracking down the fleeing suspects.
The command also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across Oyo State, stressing that it would continue to take firm action against all forms of criminal activity in the state.
