By The Osun State Police Command has begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man identified as Taofeek after he was detained at the Agbeye Police Post in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
Taofeek, a resident of Agbeye, was arrested by local volunteers on Monday over an allegation of stealing cocoa seeds. Following his arrest, he was taken to the palace of the community’s traditional ruler before being transferred to the police.
According to a resident who spoke anonymously, cocoa theft had reportedly become a recurring concern in the community. The source said Taofeek was known in the area and that his arrest attracted attention among residents.
The resident said the suspect was handed over to the police after being taken to the traditional ruler’s palace. By the following morning, news had spread within the community that Taofeek had died while in police custody. The incident has reportedly caused tension in the community, with the circumstances surrounding the death now under police investigation.
Police Question Officer in Charge
The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident and said Taofeek was detained after community members handed him over to the police.
Ojelabi said the suspect was questioned after arriving at the Agbeye police outpost and was subsequently placed in detention. The police said an officer went to check on Taofeek a few hours later and found that he had died in the cell. The command has classified the death as suicide based on its investigation so far.
Ojelabi said the officer responsible for the outpost had been questioned as part of efforts to establish what happened. No arrest had been made in connection with the death as of the time of the report. The police also said Taofeek’s remains had not yet been claimed by his relatives.
The command said it had contacted the family and was discussing the next steps concerning the deceased. Questions have also been raised about what happened to Taofeek between his arrest by the community members and his transfer into police custody.
The police said it was not aware of claims that he had been humiliated before being taken to the station. Ojelabi said the command was still unable to establish whether the suspect had been paraded through the community before he was handed over to the police.
The investigation therefore remains focused on the circumstances surrounding Taofeek’s death and the actions of the personnel responsible for his detention.
