A commercial motorcyclist identified as Ganiyu was reported to have died after allegedly being tortured by officers of the Ago-Iwoye Police Division in Ogun State.
According to PUNCH Metro’s findings on Sunday and Monday, the deceased, who was said to be an indigene of Oke-Ogun in Oyo State, had been arrested after some unidentified assailants robbed one of his customers. Sources claimed that Ganiyu, who operated as a motorcyclist in Ago-Iwoye, was severely beaten while in police custody, which allegedly led to his death.
A resident, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, explained that Ganiyu had been sent on an errand on Saturday by some members of the community, but while he was away, armed robbers attacked those who sent him. Out of suspicion, they reportedly reported him to the Ago-Iwoye Police Division.
When contacted, Awoyemi clarified that the details he shared were based on information he received from members of the local motorcycle riders’ association, adding that he had once served as a union leader in the area.
Similarly, a member of the Oke-Ogun Motorcycle Riders Association in Ago-Iwoye, identified as Temitope, confirmed the development. He stated that the Divisional Police Officer was not at the station when the incident occurred. He explained that by the time he was informed, two of their members had already been detained, and one of them, Ganiyu, had died and been taken to the mortuary.
Temitope added that they were told the officers informed the DPO—who was absent at the time—that one of the detainees had died. He remarked that motorcyclists were often regarded as people without families, and the DPO could only rely on the account given by his men, who would hardly admit to wrongdoing.
He also stated that information reached them that Ganiyu had not died before getting to the hospital, but when the Area Commander arrived, he went to verify the situation personally.
Further talking, he said, “Before things escalated, Ganiyu was supposed to be granted bail that night, but he wasn’t released.
“We were told to return the next day by 10 a.m.
“He had been beaten mercilessly since the afternoon he was brought in, and he was bleeding before he eventually died.”