Suspect Allegedly Takes Own Life In Osun Police Cell

The Osun State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the death of a man, identified as Taofeek Azeez, who was reportedly found dead inside a police cell in Agbeye, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.

Azeez was said to have been arrested by members of the community over an allegation of stealing cocoa seeds before he was taken to the palace of the traditional ruler and subsequently handed over to the police.

The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday, shortly after the suspect was detained at a police outpost in the community.

The development attracted attention after a video showing Azeez being publicly paraded by some members of the community surfaced online. In the footage, a man was seen questioning and beating the suspect while some voices identified the alleged stolen items as cocoa.

Confirming the incident in Osogbo, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the suspect was brought to the police station after the community had taken him to the traditional ruler.

Ojelabi said the monarch directed the community members to hand Azeez over to the police for proper investigation.

According to him, the suspect was questioned by the police and subsequently detained, but was later found dead when an officer went to check on him.

“The deceased was apprehended by the community for alleged stealing of cocoa seeds.

“After arresting him, they took him to the monarch of the town, and the king in turn instructed that they should hand him over to the police. He was taken to the police outpost. On getting there, he was questioned, after which he was detained.

“Few hours later, when the officer went to check on him in the cell, he had committed suicide. He committed suicide inside the cell,” the police spokesperson said.

Ojelabi, however, said the command was not treating the matter casually, stressing that the officer responsible for the detention would be questioned as part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.

“We are taking necessary steps to interrogate the officer in question, but our investigation so far shows that it is a case of suicide and the family has been contacted,” he added.

The command also said the deceased’s family had been informed of the incident, while investigations continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding his death.

The police urged members of the public to allow security agencies to handle allegations of criminality through established legal procedures rather than resorting to public punishment or parade of suspects.