By Ayodele Oni
A man described as a specialist in snatching of Motorcycles popularly known as okada, has been arrested by the Ondo state police command while his accomplice is on the run.
His arrest followed hacking to death owner of a motorcycle in Ondo town, after he was lured to a farm.
Police record disclosed that “On 25/3/2024, a complaint was received from Ondo Town, it was reported that on 25/3/2024 that a motorcycle with registration number KAK 136 VF was stolen on 15/3/2024 while the rider, one Evangelist Opeyemi Oyelakin is nowhere to be found.
“Consequent upon this report, detectives swung into action and arrested one Babalola Dolapo Daniel same date.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that the said Opeyemi Oyelakin ‘deceased’ was his childhood friend, they have not seen for a very long time until 14/3/2024.
“That on 15/3/2024, himself and one Sikiru Mutiu aka S.K deceived the said Opeyemi Oyelakin, ‘deceased’ to carry them on motorcycle to where they have farm at Oke-Igbo Area.
“That as soon as they dropped, Sikiru Mutiu aka S.K gripped him from behind while himself used stick and stone to hit him on his head, while victim died, the corpse was dragged to a shallow pit, they covered it with leaves before his motorcycle was stolen.
“Suspect took the detectives to the scene of crime, where they perpetrated the criminal act, and the corpse together with the stick and stone were recovered.
“He stated also, that he has a large syndicate and has been into the business of snatching motorcycles since 2021.
“That since then, he has snatched uncountable number of motorcycles. That he normally use stick and stone on his victims. That his operational zones are; Ondo town, Akure, Ekiti, Ilesha and Ife town.
“Therefore, members of the public, particularly motorcycle riders are warned to be mindful of the type of pillions they carry and the terrains they enter with their motorcycles.
“The Command is intensifying efforts to get everyone connected to the crime arrested and prosecuted accordingly.”
In a brief on the incident, Abayomi Oladipo, the State Commissioner of Police, said; “through technical intelligence, the suspect was arrested and upon the interrogation he confessed to how the rider was engaged from Ondo town to take him and one other to a farm area in Oke-Igbo.
“The rider, who incidentally happens to be his friend and brought him to this area where we are and on getting to this point they came down under the pretence that they want to inspect their farm, the other suspect who is now at large gripped the okada rider at the back while the arrested suspect hit him with stone on the head and consistently use wood to battered his head.
“Thereafter, they carried the dead body into the bush and use leafs to cover him and they left him there. After the interrogation, he led operatives to this particular location where they put the dead body of the deceased and that is why we are here to remove the corpse do the necessary procedure so that the family can give him the burial.
“Also, I want to say that the residents of this area, especially those who farm here since on the 15th of March, when this incident happened till date, kept mute which is not supposed to be. So what we are saying is that if you see something you must say something.
“At the moment we are still investigating to apprehend all other offenders who are on the run.
“Also, we have embarked on enlightenment campaign to sensitize okada riders for them to know the dangerous in taking passengers to isolation places.”
The suspect; Dolapo Babalola 39-year-old man who confessed to the crime stated that “it is the work of the devil, I can’t explain because this person that we are talking about is my close friend.
“He is a close friend of mine. Truly his bike is not the first bike I will ever snatch but I have never killed before. Even those that are not related to me I snatched bike from them and I did not even do anything harmful to them but this one is just a coincidence.
“It is the work of the devil I can’t explain how it happened. At least I have snatched about 15 bikes but I have never killed before. His own is the first, my buyer is at Ibadan.
“The clean of the bike at times determine how much we are going to sell it, but no matter how clean the bike is, my buyer will buy it around N200,000.”
