Police Narrates How Suspect Died

By Joseph Sunday 

The Ekiti State Police Command has narrated how a suspect, by name Shittu Rasaq Adeola died while he was locked inside a police cell at the Command Rapid Response Squad facility, to enable it carry out proper interrogations. 

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DSP Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ekiti State Police Command in a statement signed by him and made available to Treasure Newspaper on Saturday morning, described the social media reports spreading information around that Shittu Rasaq Adeola was brutalized to death by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad while torturing him as false and misleading. 

Abutu in the statement signed by him on behalf of the Ekiti State Police Command, “sympathizes with the family of the deceased, and pointing out that the allegations are 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”.

Adding, Abutu stated that the Command deemed it fit to react to the issue for the avoidance of doubt and to ensure that good citizens are not misinformed and misled despite knowing that the criminally minded elements who fabricated the story had remained faceless and could not come out to substantiate their allegations. 

Explaining further, the Ekiti State Police PRO, “said Shittu Razaq Ademola, also known as 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”. 

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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. 

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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. 

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The Ekiti Police Command spokesperson, while highlighting the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspect in police custody, stated that the suspect, Mohammed Lawal Abass, attacked Shittu Rasaq Adeola with his teeth, and confessed to the commission of the crime that it was as a result of altercation that ensued between them.

Abutu confirmed to Treasure Newspaper, that the other suspects in the cell at the time of the incidence narrated how Mohammed Lawal Abass attacked Shittu Rasaq Adeola. 

Abutu added that 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 in Ado-Ekiti. He pledged to make available to anyone who wish to have access to his written and video statements and confessions. 

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Equally, Abutu clarify rumors stating that  Shittu Rasaq Adeola before his death was denied access to lawyer and family members as untrue. “Shittu Rasaq Adeola was never a cooperative witness as stated in the allegation but a member of a dreaded gang. 

Also, he explained how 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.

“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. 

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“Shittu Rasaq Adeola did not die in RRS detention rather, he died while receiving treatment at the hospital. 

“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. 

“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.

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“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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