Police arrest five more suspects for ‘stoning motorist to death’ in Ondo

The Ondo state police command has arrested five more suspects for stoning Olorunfemi Tope, a motorist, to death on April 10.

Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the state police spokesperson, told TheCable that four of the suspects were paraded on Monday.

She added that an investigation had commenced and that the suspects would be taken to court on charges of arson and murder.

Two suspects were earlier arrested last Tuesday.

TheCable had reported how an angry mob stoned the 35-year-old to death over an accident that killed two persons and left six others injured.

The driver was said to have rammed into about five motorcycles carrying passengers at Ijoka road in Akure, the state capital, on April 10.

A source, who witnessed the incident said the driver initially made an attempt to escape after the accident. 

In an ensuing fracas, the mob pounced on Tope, whom they accused of being a ritualist, and set his car ablaze.

Odunlami-Omisanya said jungle justice was illegal and condemned the actions of the mob.

She named Amos Victor, Boboye Ismail, Olatunji Samuel, and Farotimi Pelumi, as the principal suspects.

“We have said it without number that jungle justice is illegal and against the law,” the spokesperson said.

“When there is an accident our focus is how to rescue the victims by taking them to the nearest hospitals for first aid and never take laws into our hands.

“It’s wrong for anybody to snip the life of anybody; we should allow the law to take its course because it’s not in anybody’s place to kill anyone.”