The Ondo State Police Command reported on Sunday that a 39-year-old man, Dolapo Babalola, was arrested for killing Opeyemi Oyelakin, 34, after stealing his motorcycle.
Authorities stated the suspect committed the crime in Oke-Igbo town in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of the state on March 15, 2024, and then took the victim’s motorcycle.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo, explained that the victim, who was a commercial motorcycle rider, was tricked by the suspect and another accomplice into taking them from Ondo town to a farm in Oke-Igbo town.
Oladipo also noted that his officers arrested the suspect after the motorcycle owner reported to the police station that the deceased and his motorcycle were missing.
He added, “On March 25, 2024, a complainant reported at police headquarters that the motorcycle he gave to a rider was not seen since March 15, 2024, and every effort to trace the rider proved futile. Consequently, police took action and used technical intelligence to apprehend the suspect.
“During questioning, the suspect confessed to how the rider, who happened to be his friend, was engaged to take him and another person to a farm area in Oke-Igbo town.
“They brought him to the area where we are now, which falls within Ile-Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government. Upon arrival, they got off the motorcycle under the pretense of inspecting their farm. The other suspect, currently at large, held the okada rider from behind, while the apprehended suspect hit him on the head with a stone and repeatedly used a wooden object to strike him.”
The CP explained that “afterwards, they dragged the already deceased body into the bush, threw him into a pit, covered him with leaves, and left him there. Following interrogation, he led operatives to the specific location where the body was found.
The suspect, Babalola, when questioned about why he killed his friend after stealing his motorcycle, said he could not explain and blamed the devil.
Babalola admitted to stealing motorcycles since 2021 and selling over 15 of them to a buyer in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
However, he claimed that this was the first time he had killed a victim and could not explain why.
He said, “Truly I can’t explain, it’s just the work of the devil. This person we are talking about is a close friend of mine. His bike is not the first one I have ever stolen, but I have never killed before. Even with those who are not related to me, I took their bikes without causing them harm.
“I cannot count the number of bikes I have stolen, but it’s more than 15. The person who used to buy the bikes is in Ibadan.
“The amount we sell the stolen bikes for depends on their condition, but regardless, the buyer has never paid more than N200,000. This specific one was sold for N130,000.”
