By Oluwadamilola Akinduro
and Ayodele Popoola
|
Irese community in Ifedore Local Government of Ondo State has been thrown into a moment of grief and confusion as a commercial motorcyclist reportedly strangled a 90-year-old man, Ajayi Ajisegiri to death and stole the community’s oracle.
The death of Ajisegiri on May 25, 2023 at Oke-Misson threw the traditional leader of the community and dwellers into deep confusion.
The nonagenarian before his demise was a Chief, oracle custodian and also the head of hunters in Irese.
The suspect, Dada Ologundudu, 51, popularly known as ‘Kayefi’ has been apprehended by the police for allegedly strangling the nonagenarian and stealing community’s oracle in the deceased’s custody.
The Hope Metro learnt that the suspect was nabbed by residents of the community while trying to flee the town when the death of the deceased’s was announced.
It was also gathered that the lifeless body of the deceased was found in his room, a day after Ajisegiri threatened to report the suspect to the whole community for stealing the community’s spiritual property, ‘Osho Osi Ode’ which was kept in the deceased’s custody.
The suspect’s landlady, Mrs Beatrice Ademeti who spoke with The Hope Metro explained that, the deceased came to her house a day before the incident, telling the suspect to return what he took from his house or he would report him to the community.
She said the suspect who had only spent six months in the community, claimed to be an herbalist.
She said the suspect made the deceased his intimate friend and the deceased explained to him everything the oracle is being used for.
“The motorcyclist cannot say he’s not responsible for the death of Ajisegiri, because on the night of the incident, I overheard the deceased shouting at the suspect, saying he gave him a day to return the community’s property he took in his room or else he would report the case to the whole town the next day.
“The suspect later came back at night to give baba three sachet of alcholic drink which made the deceased slept off”
The next day around 8:00am, Mrs Ademeti said she noticed the deceased has not opened his door which was unusual of him.
She said: “I called other neighbours around and I explained to them that the deceased had not opened his door since morning, which made them force his door open.
“To our surprise, we found his lifeless body on the floor in his room with fingers and blood all over his neck.”
The Hope Metro while assessing the crime scene, noticed that the assailant gained entry through the window and strangled Ajisegiri.
It was also discovered that the ‘Osho osi Ode’ that belongs to the community was also missing.
The neighbours who held the suspect in order to prevent him from escaping, took him to Olu of lrese’s palace to report the issue.
They later proceeded to report the case at the Ijare Police Station where they took the suspect to.
The suspect who initially denied at the station that he was not responsible for the missing oracle and the killing of the deceased, was later taken back to the community palace where Olu of Irese, Ahmed Saka commanded him to say the truth.
The suspect asked for a private audience with the traditional ruler before he confessed to be in possession of the community’s oracle.
The monarch said if he refused to reveal where he kept the oracle, the community won’t know peace and the deceased can’t be buried.
The suspect confessed where he kept the oracle and it was retrieved with the help of the police and was taken back to the community.
The entire residents of the community were filled with joy when the oracle was found in an uncompleted building where the suspect kept it.
A police officer, who confided in Hope Metro, said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Akure, for further investigation.
Efforts to speak with the PPRO on the crime, proved abortive.
