The family of late Adebiyi Ogunyele, a farmer who was allegedly murdered in Iggua, in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, have accused the Ogun State Police Command of compromising the case.

That Adebiyi was tortured to death in the ‘evil forest’ on September 16 for allegedly killing infants in the community with a strange spirit.

His body was disposed of at the Omilende area of Igbogila, with a finger reportedly missing from his body.

The family had accused the Onigua of Iggua, Oba Talabi Dosunmu, and some of his chiefs of sanctioning the killing of their son, an allegation the monarch denied.

Adebiyi’s wife, Yemisi, who spoke to our correspondent in Yoruba on Tuesday, said the family was afraid that the police would sweep the case under the carpet.

She said she and her mother-in-law, Ibiyemi, were at the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, last week over the matter, adding that the way the police had been handling the matter was suspicious.

She said, “I overheard some of the policemen discussing the matter and saying that the case is already dead because of the personalities involved.”

Another family member, Adesina Alabi, said four people were arrested over the incident.

He said, “After newsmen published details of Adebiyi’s murder, the police arrested four people, including Chief Aro, who was later freed without our knowledge.

“In fact, if not that newsmen published the story, the police would not have done anything because before then, we had petitioned the Office of the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services and Office of the Ogun State Attorney General and nothing was done until newsmen reported the matter.

“They did not arrest Oba Dosunmu whom we learnt wrote a letter through his lawyer that he was incapacitated. His lawyer was the one who was present with us.

“The police at Eleweran warned us not to talk to newsmen again, meanwhile till now, we have not heard anything from them.

“Our family is not happy with the way the police are handling this matter. In fact, it was only at Eleweran that the IPO in charge of the case submitted our petition in our presence last week.”

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the matter was under investigation and denied any plan to compromise it.

He said, “The moment CP Lanre Bankole got wind of the matter, he directed the homicide section to wade in and investigate the case.

“This is despite the fact that the family of the late Adebiyi after reporting the matter failed to show up again until we asked them to come to Eleweran. They are the complainant and without them, we cannot do much.”

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