Oyo: CP’s Job On The Line; Heads To Roll |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

The job of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police is on the line. And so are the jobs of a number of other police officers in the state. The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu is embarrassed. And so are Nigerians. The embarrassment stems from the unbelievable escape of a 19 year serial killer, Sunday Shodipe from Police Custody. The Source had broken the then unbelievable story of the then more unbelievable story of Shodipe’s escape.  It turned out to be true.

Members of Shodipe’s community are at once angry and afraid. “We now live in fear since the escape”, an old man from the Community told this magazine.

Nobody can quite explain how he escaped. For months, Shodipe has been on a killing spree, like one possessed. His arrest, by the Police, prompted jubilation. It was, therefore, a shock when he escaped. The youths in the Community took to the streets to protest his escape. They were going to raze down the police station from where he escaped from custody. But wise counsel from their King and the Oyo state Government prevailed.

They allege Police complicity. Nobody can quite explain how Shodipe escaped from custody. One speculation is that he escaped while he was eating. How? Was he not in a leg chain? Was he left alone to eat? Another said he escaped when he went to the rest room. Again, people ask how. Was he left unchained?

The questions, however, is how such a serial killer was not moved to the state Police Headquarters where security is more fortified, where more eyes would have been on him.

That is the question the CP, the Area Commander the DPO and all the Police Officers on duty at the Police facility from where he escaped from will answer.

In a Press Release, Force Headquarters Spokesperson, ACP Frank Mba, said “the IGP  has deployed additional investigative aids to Oyo State to complement the efforts of the Oyo State Police Command in the ongoing manhunt and efforts aimed at re-arresting Sunday Shodipe, a prime suspect in the multiple murder of innocent citizens at Akinyele Local Government Area, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State. The additional deployment comprises crack detectives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Force Intelligence Bureau, Abuja. The team is expected to bring their vast operational, technical and investigative experience to bear in supporting ongoing efforts aimed at re-arresting and bringing the fugitive to book.”

Acknowledging the IGP’s anger, the statement said the IGP who “condemned the unfortunate escape from lawful custody of the suspect, has directed the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command to intensify efforts and ensure the prompt re-arrest of the fleeing suspect. The CP has also been directed to speedup investigations into the circumstances that led to the escape of the suspect. All persons indicted in the escape are to be identified and made to face the wrath of the law. The CP has equally been mandated to immediately assess and rejig the security architecture in the State so as to prevent any future occurrence of untoward incidents.”

Meanwhile, the IGP had called  “for calm and enjoins citizens to cooperate with the police by providing useful information that can lead to the unearthing of the whereabouts of Sunday Shodipe – the suspected serial killer.”

A source close to FHQs told this magazine that officers in the state, including the CP, might face disciplinary action such as being redeployed from the state,  reprimand, severe reprimand, reduction in rank, termination of appointment, or outright dismissal, depending on their involvement.