Ibadan varsity first-class graduate beaten to death for allegedly stealing bread, suspects arrested

• Friends and family pleaded to reimburse bread owner before the First Class Graduate was beaten to death
• Three suspects arrested by Bayelsa State Police
• Police condemn mob action, warn against vigilantism
  

  ---

Opuofoni Freeborn Ebimotimi, a first class graduate of Business Administration from the University of Ibadan, was fatally beaten by a mob in Bayelsa State after being accused of allegedly stealing bread.

According to reports from Peoples 93.1 FM in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, Ebimotimi, a native of Korokorosei community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government area, allegedly stole bread from a local business owner within the community.

Upon discovery of the alleged theft, an alarm was raised, which swiftly attracted an angry mob to confront Ebimotimi. Despite the pleas from witnesses, including his younger sister Idisemi Opuofoni Freeborn, who vouched to reimburse double the value of the stolen bread, the agitated crowd refused to show mercy and tragically ended his life.

Idisemi expressed the hardships her family had endured since the passing of their father, citing hunger as a factor that compelled Ebimotimi to resort to stealing bread.

The Bayelsa State Police Command in a release on Tuesday said three suspects had been arrested and an investigation was ongoing.

“The Bayelsa State Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the mob action by unruly crowd which led to the death of Ebimotimi Freeborn ‘m’ 32 years.

“The suspects; Preye Mathew ‘f’ 50 years, Theophilus Tiro ‘m’ 28 years, and Famous Precious ‘m’ 22 years were arrested on 9 July 2023 at about 1700 hours at Tombia- Amassoma road after an angry mob lynched the suspect to death for allegedly stealing bread.

“The Command condemned the action of the mob and warned members of the public to desist from taking the laws into their own hands. The suspects are undergoing interrogation and would be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation,” SP Asinim Butswat, the Police Public Relations Officer, said.