BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Facts have emerged on how three murder suspects who were killed in crossfire between the police and some gunmen who terrorised and killed innocent residents of Osogbo, Osun State, died in an attack while being taken to the Ilesa Correctional Centre, on August 25.
The murder suspects, 22-year-old Tope Gbenga, (a.k.a Jenbe); Opeyemi Obaniwa, (a.k.a Omojoibo), 22; and Olaide Adelu, (a.k.a Okiki), aged 18; were said to have sustained severe injuries resulting in their deaths while being treated at the hospital.
They were earlier arraigned by the police before a Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, on nine counts bothering on armed robbery and murder.
The three suspects, allegedly armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, were said to have conspired with others at large to rob residents of Osogbo, on different occasions, between 2019 and 2021.
They were alleged to have killed one Muhammad Rabiu during one of their operations.
The charge reads partly, “That Tope Gbenga, (a.k.a Jenbe), aged 22; Opeyemi Obaniwa, (a.k.a Omojoibo), aged 22; Olaide Adelu, (a.k.a. Okiki), aged 18; and others now at large, between year 2019 and 26th June, 2021, at about 2pm in Osogbo did conspire among yourselves to commit armed robbery.”
Police Prosecutor, John Idoko, told the court that the defendants, at the same time and place, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, robbed one Muraina Hammed of telephone recharge cards valued at N450, 000; seven mobile phones valued at N137, 000; and the sum of N250, 000.
Idoko further alleged that the suspects also robbed one Kasali Adisa of two iPhones valued at N290, 000, and the sum of N250, 000. They also reportedly robbed one Olanrewaju Omolara of a mobile phone and the sum of N50, 000.
The men, who were said to be in possession of three locally made single barrel guns and 13 live cartridges, allegedly killed one Muhammad Rabiu in Osogbo.
The murder suspects reportedly committed the offences contrary to Section 6(b) and Section 4, punishable under Sections 1(1), 1(1)(2)(a)(b), and 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Vol 14 , Laws of the Federation, 2014, and punishable under Section 319(1) and Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II Laws of Nigeria, 2002.
Three lawyers, T.B. Ayodele, Suleiman Akano and Taiwo Awokunle, appeared in court for the defendants.
The presiding magistrate, A. A. Adeyeba, ordered that they should be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre, while the case file of the defendants were forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice in the state for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned till October 27 for mention.
Meanwhile, while explaining the circumstances surrounding their deaths, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun State Command, Yemisi Opalola, said that they were killed in a gun duel with some armed bandits trying to free the murder suspects.
Opalola said that while transporting them to the Correctional Centre in Ilesa, the vehicle in which they were being conveyed developed a mechanical fault at Osunjela River. While a mechanic was fixing the fault, some armed men on motorcycle had swooped in and opened fire on the security team in a bid to free the murder suspects.
The PPRO said that the tactical team engaged the armed men,and that in the process, the three murder suspects and one of the gunmen were killed.
The Point learnt that the suspects, who were arrested by the police in June, got killed on August 25 hours after being arraigned in court
