Two cousins, Damilola Famoriyo and Akinbayo Emmanuel Abiodun have been arrested by the police for allegedly hacking a tricycle operator, Amos Oyemechi Chuckwuka to death and dumping his body at a riverbank in Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, who disclosed this to journalists in Abeokuta on Saturday, said the suspects were arrested on Thursday, February 9, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
Oyeyemi said the suspects were arrested following information received by policemen attached to the Obalende Divisional Headquarters, Ijebu Ode, on the 13th of December 2022, that a dead body which was later identified as that of a tricycle rider was found on the riverbank at the Agoro area of Ijebu Ode.
“Upon the information, the DPO Obalende division, SP Murphy Salami led his detectives to the scene, where it was discovered that the deceased was macheted to death after which his tricycle was taken away.
“The DPO detailed his crack team to embark on a technical and forensic investigation of the incident in order to unravel those behind the devilish act.
“Their efforts yielded positive results. On the 9th of February 2023, when one of the suspects, Damilola Famoriyo, who resides at New Site, Awosan Fakale Ikorodu, Lagos was arrested with the deceased’s phone.”
The PPRO continued, “His arrest led to the apprehension of his accomplice, who is also his cousin, Akinbayo Emmanuel Abiodun of Road 1, Block A, Maya Ikorodu Lagos state.
“On interrogation, the two suspects confessed to the commission of the crime. In their statements, they confessed been a two-man syndicate that specialized in snatching motorcycles and tricycles.
“They confessed further that they always carry out their robbery operation in Ijebu ode and its environs.”
Giving details on how they murdered the tricycle operation, the PPRO stated that the suspects said, “On the 13th of December 2022, they lured the victim Amos Oyemechi Chuckwuka to carry their farm products from Agoro area to the town, and they agreed on a price.
“But on getting to Agoro/Ikangba road, they stopped him and snatched the tricycle from him. It was when the deceased tried to struggle with them that they macheted him to death and dragged his corpse to the riverbank where they dumped him.
“They informed the police further that they have snatched up to eight tricycles in the Ijebu Ode area, and that their standby buyers are residing at Ikorodu in Lagos state.”
Salami disclosed that the police had the two phones of the deceased and the cutlass they used to kill him.
The PPRO said, the Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, has directed that the suspects be transferred to state Criminal Investigation