Masquerade kills youth in Oyo State, police launch investigation
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a masquerade identified as Asoleke over the alleged killing of a 24-year-old man, Sefiu Kehinde, during a traditional masquerade procession in the Labiran area of Ibadan.
The incident occurred on Sunday and has sparked outrage among residents after the victim was allegedly attacked with dangerous weapons by the masquerade and some of its followers during the procession.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, noting that the case was reported at the Mapo Divisional Police Headquarters by Mrs. Aderemi, who received a distress call from her elder sister alleging that the Asoleke masquerade and its followers had attacked her younger brother.
According to the police, Kehinde was assaulted with axes and cutlasses, sustaining severe injuries to different parts of his body. The Divisional Police Officer of Mapo Division immediately led officers to the scene, rescued the victim and rushed him to a hospital for emergency treatment.
Olayinka said the attending doctor later confirmed Kehinde dead on arrival. Detectives subsequently processed the crime scene and carried out necessary documentation, including photographs, as part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The command said the deceased’s body was released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites. It added that the masquerade identified as Asoleke had been arrested in connection with the incident, while four other suspected accomplices remain at large.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Olugbemiga, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation, while detectives launch a manhunt for the fleeing suspects to determine the roles played by everyone involved.
The police further appealed to residents to remain calm and support the investigation with credible information that could lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects. The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, warning that no cultural or traditional activity would be allowed to serve as a cover for violence and assuring that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
