JUST IN: Fear Grips Akinyele Residents As Serial Ritual Killer Escapes From Police Custody

Residents of the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State are now living in fear as the prime suspect arrested in connection with some of the killings in the area, Sunday Shodipe, escaped from the police custody.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirned the escape of the 19-year-old suspect in a statement on Sunday.

The teenage suspect escaped from police detention on Tuesday and two days after his escape, a middle aged woman was killed in a similar way in the area.

The killing led to a public protest by residents of the area on Friday.

The police appealed to the angry youths in the area not to take the law into their own hands while urging them to hand over any suspect to them. He warned against jungle justice.

However, residents of the area who spoke to THE WHISTLER on Sunday said they no longer feel safe following the escape of the suspect.

A teacher at Moniya area who identified himself simply as Joshua said he had warned his wife and children to always stay indoors and make sure they returned home not later than 3:pm from now on.

He said , ” We are now living in fear because if that prime suspect could be allowed to.escape from detention, then we are not safe.

” The boy was paraded and he confessed to the killing and was taken to court. If he could escape, anything can happen.’

Another resident, a food vendor, told our corespondent that she would close her shop any moment from 4pm because of the development.

The statement read, “The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc wishes to state that, the prime suspect in the serial killings at Akinyele Local Government Area, Moniya Ibadan of Oyo State, one Sunday Shodipe ‘m’ 19 years has escaped.

‘The suspect was arrested and paraded along with two others at the Oyo State Police Command on 17th July, 2020 and later charged to court but was remanded in police custody, he escaped from lawful custody on 11/08/2020.

” Consequent upon this, the CP wishes to implore the general public to be on the lookout, arrest and immediately inform the officers and men of the command when sighted for immediate handing over for further action.

“The CP seizes this opportunity to appeal to any member of the public with credible information as to the where about of the assailant not to hesitate in passing same to the Oyo State Police Command to assist in the apprehension of the offender who is now at large.

“The CP further advises angry youths/mobs from taking laws into their hands by carrying out jungle justice when suspected criminals are arrested, but such suspect(s) should be handed over to the police.

The suspect had confessed to the police that a herbalist engaged him to kill for rituals and that he was paid N500 and given food after each operation.