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Jungle justice: Police arrest 2, ODSG condemns killing

Two persons have been arrested by the Ondo State Police Command for lynching a 19-year-old, Tope Olorunfemi, to death on Monday over a traffic accident in Ijoka, a high populated suburb area of Akure, Ondo State.

Tope was clubbed severally, violently and mercilessly to death by an irate mob mainly made up of Okada riders, for ramming into some commercial motorcyclists which led to the death of two of their members.

Eye witnesses accounts said jungle justice was at its best as the attackers of Tope rained stones and pelted him with clubs and sticks until the young man died.

Those who witnessed the incident described the scene as criminal public execution and bizarre beyond imagination as Tope’s lifeless body was later shoved into his Toyota car before being set ablaze.

Our correspondent observed that heaps of heavy stones reminiscent of the stone age with which Tope was killed, littered the scene of the mob attack.

A spokesperson for the Police Command, SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya disclosed that detectives have arrested two persons who participated in the mob killing.

Omisanya said the duo allegedly master minded the burning of the victim’s car and hinted that they would be charged to court soon.

She warned against mob lynching, saying it is wrong to take the laws into their hands.

She said, “We need to see ourselves as one and love each other. We should first see ourselves as human beings before becoming 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.

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“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.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government has cautioned against jungle justice in the state.

The Acting Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, gave the warning in a statement signed by Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation.

The statement reads, “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, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has expressed shock and disbelief, on the recent mob attack that led to  stoning to death of 19 years 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.”

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Mr. Aiyedatiwa urged Ondo State citizens to have trust in the rule of law, saying 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,” it added.

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