Man murders Okada rider, steals motorcycle

A 20-year-old man has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly murdering a commercial motorcycle operator (Okadaman), and making away with his motorcycle.

Punch reports that the suspect who had contracted the 25-year-old Okadaman, Oweche Odeje to convey him to a destination, allegedly slit the throat Okada rider with a sharp knife and escaped with the bike.

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Odeje who operated under the aegis of the Articulate Motorcyclists Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (AMORAN), Iyana Iyesi branch, in the Ado- Odo Ota Local Government Area of the state, it was gathered, was taking Muhammed from Ijaba junction to Ijaba Pipeline, a neighbouring community to Iyana Iyesi, when the latter reportedly killed him and fled with the motorcycle, leaving him in a pool of blood.

It was gathered that the suspect fled to Iju, another neighbouring community, where he was eventually arrested by the police.

A relative of the deceased who spoke to reporters, Emmanuel Omajowu, said that his death has devastated his parents and the entire family.

“Around 10am last Tuesday, he was taking the Hausa man (Muhammed) from Ijaba junction to Ijaba Pipeline. The place is a developing area and it is usually deserted.

They were on the way when he suddenly brought out a knife and slit Owechu’s throat. The killer escaped with the motorcycle.

Owechu’s death is a big blow to the family. He was friendly and generous. We want the police to prosecute the case diligently and let justice be done.”

A commercial motorcyclist said other Okada riders at Iyana Iyesi had tried to stop the suspect when they saw bloodstains on his clothes but he lied to them that he had an accident with a passenger and they allowed him to go, with some even giving him money to go to a hospital to treat himself.

“He lied to them that he had an accident with a passenger and that he was going to a hospital in Iju to treat himself. That was why they allowed him to go.

When the corpse of the motorcyclist was later found, a boy said he saw him with Muhammed. A leader of Hausa in the community called Muhammed on the telephone to wait at Iju and the police went there to arrest him,” the rider said.

But speaking after his arrest, the suspect said that argument over N50 balance led to a scuffle between him and the victim during which he stabbed him to death.

“When I reached my destination, I gave him N200 and asked for N50 change. He said my fare was N200 and refused to give me change. As we were exchanging words, he slapped me.

He removed the knife from my pocket and we started struggling. I managed to collect it and stabbed him. I didn’t mean to kill him.”

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The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ambibola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect, said he had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for investigation and would soon be charged to court.