Police rescue suspected robber from lynching in Ogun
The Ogun State Police Command has rescued a suspected robber, Adebayo Okokiola, from a mob attack in the Awowo area of Ewekoro Local Government Area.
The 21-year-old suspect was caught by locals on Friday after allegedly robbing a Point of Sale (PoS) operator.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Omolola Odutola, Okokiola had approached the PoS operator to withdraw cash but instead attacked her, strangling her and stealing her purse, which contained N100,000.
After fleeing the scene, he was pursued by local residents who captured him. The mob, furious at his actions, attempted to lynch him before police arrived.
“Initial investigations revealed that Okokiola went to the PoS operator at Awowo to withdraw N20,000, plus a service fee of N800, and bought a soft drink and sachet water,” Odutola explained.
“While alone with the PoS operator, he pretended to make a money transfer, but instead attacked her, strangled her, and stole her purse.”
Further investigation revealed that Okokiola had been staying at Mingles Hotel in Unity Estate, Onigbedu/Itori Road, since December 9, 2024. He had been paying N4,000 per day for a room until December 25, when he upgraded to a more expensive room at N6,000 per day.
Upon his arrest, the police recovered several items from his hotel room, including six SIM cards from various telecom providers and three ATM cards for which he could not provide a valid explanation. A 28-year-old hotel receptionist, Adeyanju Abayomi, was also arrested in connection with the incident.
“The suspect admitted to the crime, and further searches revealed additional evidence,” Odutola said.
“The suspects and the recovered items will be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.”
The PoS operator survived the attack and received medical treatment. Okokiola, who is known for targeting PoS operators, especially females, using fake alerts to carry out his crimes, has been arrested for similar offences in the past.
The PPRO urged PoS operators to exercise caution and be vigilant when conducting transactions, especially when dealing with suspicious individuals.
