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EKITI POLICE COMMAND CLEARS AIR OVER DEATH OF SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY

…exonerates RRS

The Ekiti State Police Command has noticed a particular falsely fabricated allegation against the Command Rapid Response Squad (RRS) circulating on the social media alleging the operatives of brutally killing one Shittu Razaq Ademola while undergoing interrogation in their custody.

While the Command sympathizes with the family of the deceased, we want to categorically state that the allegation is baseless, fake and a consciously calculated attempt by the faceless criminal elements to cripple the morale of the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad RRS who are terrors to the kingdom of hardened criminals, in order for them (the criminals) to always have their way in the society.

In a statement by th command Public Relations officer, Mr Sunday Abutu, said the Command deemed it fit to react for the avoidance of doubt and to ensure that good citizens are not misinformed and misled despite knowing fully well that the criminally minded elements who fabricated the story remain faceless and could not come out to substantiate their allegation.

To keep the record straight, the said Shittu Razaq Ademola A.K.A, Adeola Para(now late), was arrested on 13/09/2024 and was being investigated in connection with a case of armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of fire arms and cultism.

It would be recalled that on 19/07/2024 at about 19:20hrs, some armed hoodlums stormed the resident of one Mrs Abubakry Abiola Haniyat of Omisanjanna Area of Ado Ekiti, attacked her and dispossessed her of one black Toyota Camry Car, one iPhone 12 pro-max valued ₦750,000, one gold hand chain valued ₦600,000, one infinix phone valued ₦120,000, one Nokia handset valued ₦55,000 a cash sum of ₦250,000 and her ATM cards at gun point.

The Command Rapid Response Squad commenced investigation and arrested one of the suspects, Babalola Ayodeji, in his hide out at Ido-Ekiti on 13/08/2024. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and mentioned one Adeyemi Ojo a.k.a O-JESUS as his accomplice and one Okunade Emmanuel a.k.a Embezzle as the buyer of the car. Okunade Emmanuel was arrested on 09/09/2024 in Oye-Ekiti and the snatched vehicle was found in his possession. In his confession, he narrated that he contacted one Shittu Razaq Adeola a.k.a. Ademola Para of Ido-Ekiti that he needed a good and affordable car which was delivered to him by the gang at Shittu Razaq Adeola’s house in Ido-Ekiti at the rate of two Million, five hundred thousand naira (₦2,500,000)

Effort intensified by the operatives of the RRS led to the arrest of Shittu Rasaq Adeola a.k.a Adeola Para on 13/09/2024. Shittu Rasaq Adeola, during interrogation and in his statement in both video and written forms, confessed to the commission of the crime. He further narrated that he supplied the gun used by the gang for their operations. He also confessed that he was a member of the Supreme Eiye Confraternity. His house was searched and one single barrel gun loaded with cartridges and one cut to small size barrel gun were recovered from him.
Other members of the gang and accomplices arrested are Adeyemi Ojo a.k.a O-JESUS, Matthew Suuru a.k.a Dodo in Lagos and Bamigbose Olusola a.k.a Master while others are still at large.

Meanwhile, on 19/09/2024 at about 03:00hrs, the said Shittu Rasaq Adeola, while in the Police cell together with other suspects, was swiftly attacked and bitten by one of the suspects Mohammad Lawal Abass. Mohammed Lawal Abass equally attacked and bit two other suspects in the cell who attempted to intervene before the arrival of the cell guard. Shittu Rasaq Adeola developed complications as a result of the serious bite/attack and was immediately rushed to the Police Hospital Ado Ekiti for treatment. He was further referred to Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti and admitted for treatment but later confirmed dead by the Medical Doctor. His corpse was deposited at the Morgue for preservation and autopsy.

The Following should however be noted concerning the incident:

  1. The suspect, Mohammed Lawal Abass, who attacked the Shittu Rasaq Adeola with his teeth confessed to the commission of the crime that it was as a result of altercation that ensued between them.
  2. Other suspects in the cell have equally narrated how Mohammed Lawal Abass attacked Shittu Rasaq Adeola in the cell
  3. Mohammed Lawal Abass who was earlier arrested for burglary and stealing has been charged to court for murder, burglary and stealing and remanded in correctional centre, Ado-Ekiti
  4. Their written and video statements/confessions are available for those who wish to access them.
  5. Shittu Rasaq Adeola was never at any point denied access to his lawyer or family members as alleged.
  6. Shittu Rasaq Adeola was never a cooperative witness as stated in the allegation but a member of a dreaded gang.
  7. One Abdullateed Babatunde Alex a.k.a FINISHER, a relative of Shittu Rasaq Adeola, was sentenced to death by the High Court, Ado-Ekiti, for Armed Robbery and currently in Maximum Correctional Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, a crime investigation revealed that Shittu Rasaq Adeola took part.
  8. His family, having realised the extent of atrocities committed by the deceased that led to him being apprehended, has deposed to an affidavit not suspecting foul play against the Police, but making a passionate appeal to the police to graciously relieve them of their grief/pain and compassionately release their corpse for burial.
  9. Shittu Rasaq Adeola did not die in RRS detention rather, he died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

For further exposition, the gang members arrested, including Shittu Rasaq Adeola all confessed to numerous snatching of cars and motorcycles, robbery attacks as well as murder of POS Operators in Ado, Ikere and Ilawe-Ekiti. Investigation revealed that the gang was responsible for the robbery attack on one Mrs Ayeni Damilola on 20/04/2024, one Olanrewaju Babalotin on 15/05/2024, robbery and attempted murder of one Adaramodu Catherine Kehinde on 04/08/2024, who is currently battling to survive at Ile-Ife General Hospital, Osun State, due to the serious injuries inflicted on her during the robbery, amongst others.

The houses and premises of the suspects were searched and the following items were recovered: four cut to size single barrel guns, one long locally made single barrel gun, six live cartridges, one axe, one cutlass, one black Toyota Camry, one red Toyota Camry car and two red Bajaj motorcycles.

The Command was shocked upon seeing a publication that tries to defend a notorious criminal. However, intelligence gathered by the Command operatives revealed that the faceless beings behind the baseless allegation are his fellow secret cult member and hoodlums who are miffed at the vacuum created by the demise of Shittu Rasaq Adeola. The Command dares the writers to come out from their hideouts and present their facts.

Members of the public are implored to disregard the cock and bull allegation against the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) as it is baseless, malicious, false and aimed at tarnishing the image of the Unit and the entire Police Force.
The Command will, despite all odds, continue to work assiduously to get the State rid of criminal elements, ensure the safety of lives and properties of all innocent citizens and protect the rights of good citizens, while imploring everyone to be law abiding citizens and give timely and credible information to the Police and other security agents that will lead to arrest of criminal suspects in the State.

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