Victims Kick As Armed Robbery Suspects Escape From Police Custody In Osun
Victims of armed robbery attack at Ife North local government area of Osun State have expressed disappointment over alleged escape from police custody of suspected perpetrators, pleading for their re-arrest and recovery of their stolen items.
Addressing newsmen Monday in Osogbo, the victims, Chief Kehinde Orosanya, Olaosebikan Oyeyemi, Oladejo Dele, and Balogun Oluwafemi who were robbed of their cars and other valuables lamented the escape of the suspects after they had made confessional statement to the police.
The victims also expressed fear for the safety of their lives and properties especially when the suspects were brought to their homes by the police for identification and having identified some of those items recovered from the suspects.
Speaking, Chief Kehinde Orosanya, the Lodifi Of Ipetumodu who had earlier petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone X1, Osun Commissioner of Police among others said police have failed to fulfil the promise of recovering their valuables even after the suspects have made confessional statement and mentioned the Motor Dealers the suspects sold their cars to.
It was learned that Chief Orosanya, in a petition dated 9th May, 2019 through his counsel, Barrister B.L Ijaiya and addressed to Assistant Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police and O/C SARS Osogbo called on the police to unravel the circumstances that led to the escape of the suspects from their custody.
According to him, Other robbery victims Olaosebikan Oyeyemi was robbed of his Toyota corolla with registration number EKY 671ET, on 28th July, 2018 at Ipetumodu. Mr Oladejo Dele, Toyota Corolla registration number LSR 777 DQ, stolen on March 20, 2019 at 35 Power line area, Moro and MR Balogun Oluwafemi who was robbed of Muscle Camry with registration number Lagos LSR 662 EU.
He said they were surprised when the SARS officers invited them to their office and told them that the arrested suspects have escaped from their custody at Ikirun, in Ifelodun local government area of Osun State the third day after they were brought to their houses.
The Ipetumodu kingmaker said the prime suspect identified as Lakin Oyewumi and his partner Yemi Adebayo had on 25 day of November, 2018 broke into his house located at old Umezure Hospital area, Ipetumodu and made away with his Toyota Camry Sport Car, 2007 model and its documents.
Other stolen items according to Chief Orosanyan are; Two flat screen televisions, home theatr, Golden wedding rings for him and his wife , wrist watches, lot of cloths both native and English dress, his chieftaincy beads and crown, pairs of shoes, voters card, DTB among others valuables.
He further explained that after he lodged complaints at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ipetumodu and upon his compliant, the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) swung into action and eventually got the prime suspect apprehended at Modakeke from whom some of the stolen clothing and jewelleries were recovered.
Chief Orosanya said the suspect assisted the SARS to fish out the whereabouts of his cohorts and thereafter, officer of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ipetumodu eventually arrested Lakin, at Asipa, Ife North local government before he was handed over to the state CID (SARS) in Osogbo.
According to Chief Orosanya, Lakin while making his confessional statement explained that he sold the Toyota Camry Spot Car, 2007 model and its particulars to one prominent dealer in Osogbo.
Orosanyan said he had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adam over the escape of the two suspected armed robbers who from the police custody.
His words: “To the staggering dismay, the SARS office invited all the victims of the robbery attack to the SARS office informed us that, the suspect Lakin and Yemi had escaped from their custody at Ikirun.
“The act and conduct of the SARS to have allowed the suspects to escape from their custody is questionable as we are privileged to know that the dealer to whom the vehicles were sold is a prominent dealer in Osogbo and that the SARS must have played his bids sequel to the confessional statement made by Lakin.
“Our lives are in danger because the SARS had taken the suspects to our houses day before they (SARS) claimed that the suspects have escaped from their custody.
“We are calling on Police Authority to graciously launch a thorough investigation into matter so as to be able to unravel the mystery behind the escape of the suspects from the SARS custody and recover their belongings as promised by police”.