Police place N500k bounty on ‘serial killer’ who is on the run in Oyo

The Oyo state police command has announced N500,000 as reward for credible information that can lead to the rearrest of Sunday Shodipe, a suspected serial killer.

Shodipe, 19, is a prime suspect in a series of killings recorded at the Akinyele area of Ibadan.

The suspect was arrested by the police in July and kept at the Mokola station in Ibadan, but escaped from custody on August 11.

Shodipe’s escape has generated criticism and protests against the professionalism of the police force under whose watch the suspect escaped.

Nwachukwu Enwonwu, the state police commissioner, blamed an off-duty police officer for the escape.

In a statement on Thursday, Fadeyi Olugbenga, police spokesman in the state, said Enwonwu has announced a reward of N500,000 for anyone with information that can lead to the suspect’s rearrest.

He said anyone who knows the suspect’s hideout should inform the nearest police station or contact the command through approved lines.

“The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc wishes to state that handsome reward of five hundred thousand naira only (N500,000) awaits whoever gives useful information for the arrest of the suspected serial killer at Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, one Sunday Shodipe ‘m’ 19yrs, who was arrested and paraded at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters on 17th July, 2020, but later escaped from lawful custody on 11th August, 2020,” the statement read.

“Consequently, the general public is hereby implored to arrest and immediately hand him over to the nearest Police Station for necessary action. The Command can be contacted on GSM Numbers: 08035632410 and 07066003536. Kindly give it a repeated broadcast, please.”

This development comes about 24 hours after Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, ordered the deployment of more officers from Abuja to Oyo to ensure the rearrest of Shodipe.