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Says Suspect’s Father Dies after Reports of Son’s Poisoning
- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a farmer, Ajibade Gbenga, who forced a 25-year-old man to drink poisonous substance over alleged theft.
As captured in a video posted on Instagram on Friday, the suspected thief simply identified as Emmanuel was seen kneeling before Ajibade after being caught for allegedly stealing maize on his farm.
The farmer would proceed to force Emmanuel to drink the spiked liquid substance he claimed in the video to be milk.
Confirming the incident to NPO Reports Correspondent, the Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed that Ajibade has been arrested yesterday.
He explained that the incident happened about two weeks ago at Ireti Ayo, Ilesa area of the state.
“The incident happened about a week or more ago. We’ve been on the matter and the man was apprehended yesterday and investigation is on.
“Though it was confirmed that the boy was passing by and plucked two cobs from the farmer’s corn farm. That is what led to the man doing that barbaric act.” Ojelabi said,
The Police spokesperson further disclosed that Emmanuel was rushed to a nearby where he was stabilised and currently monitored by medical practitioner.
While identifying the poisonous substance administered to Emmanuel by the farmer as herbicide, Ojelabi however announced that the incident claimed the life of the 25-year-old man’s father who died after receiving the news of his son’s poisoning.
“God so kind, the boy was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was stabilised.
“He is stable at the moment but still under observation by medical practitioners.
“I interrogated the man myself. He said it was a substance used in killing weed in the farm. I don’t know the actual product, but it is one of those things. He just mixed them and gave it to the boy.
“The sad news there is that when the information got to the father of the boy that his son has been poisoned, in the shock, the man gave up the ghost.
That is the painful part of the whole thing.” He said.
The Osun PPRO disclosed that the farmer will be arraigned to court as soon as investigation is concluded.