Akinyele Killer Suspect: Makinde Gives Security Agencies Marching Orders on Escapee

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday, gave marching orders to security operatives to ensure the re-arrest of Sunday Shodipe, the notorious suspect, alleged to be involved in the series of murders in Akinyele, who escaped from from police custody in Ibadan, on Saturday.

The governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Security, COMPOL Fatai Owoseni (rtd), at a Town Hall meeting held at Akinyele Local Government, said the re-arrest of the alleged mastermind of at least six ritual killings in Ibadan, must be made a top priority of security operatives.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said that Governor Makinde said his administration places premium on security of lives and properties in the state and therefore urged the residents of the area to remain calm and not take laws into their hands.

Makinde, who maintained that he shared the pains of the people of Akinyele, over the incessant killings in the local government area, said the people must continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials to lawfully bring about an end to the menace in the area.

According to him; “All of us have followed the incidents in Akinyele; the arrest of the principal suspect in the case and, of course, his escape from custody, after being arraigned in court.

“We are here today in this Town Hall meeting and Governor Makinde has directed that we should let the people in the community know that as governor, he shares their pain; and as people of Oyo State, we share in the pain; and what has happened is condemnable and unacceptable in all materials particular

“Be that as it may, the governor also wants us to dialogue with the people, with a view to ensuring that as much as security challenges can affect economic development, so also are barbaric actions like taking laws into people’s hands.

The governor added that the police would need the cooperation of the people to be able to succeed in putting an end to the incessant killings and crime in the community, saying: “The last one was preventable if that suspect had not escaped.

“Just like the state gave the security agencies the wherewithal and tools to apprehend that suspect in the first case, so also is the governor deploying whatever is necessary and the enablement that will make them succeed. And they must work in partnership with the members of the community in the spirit of community policing.

“So, we have come here to pass this message to our people here. They have also given their commitment to work together with the police to make sure the suspect is re-arrested, investigated and prosecuted,” the governor said.