A magistrates’ court in Ilorin has ordered the remand of three men accused of brutally killing a commercial motorcyclist and stealing his motorcycle in Asunnara village, Kwara State.
The suspects, identified as Peter Samuel, Jeremiah Tiozina, and Sunday Agbenke, face multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, theft, and the unlawful removal of human parts.
According to police reports, the crime was discovered in the early hours of the morning when the victim’s headless body was found by a riverbank in a pool of blood.
Two android phones, believed to belong to the victim and one of the suspects, were also recovered from the crime scene.
Investigations revealed that Samuel and Tiozina hired the victim, Raufu Akanno, for a round-trip motorcycle ride to the Olooru area, agreeing to pay N10,000, with an initial deposit of N5,000.
During the journey, Samuel reportedly staged a ruse, asking Akanno to stop to retrieve his fallen cap. As the motorcyclist stopped, the suspects attacked him with a stick, decapitated him, and fled with his motorcycle.
The prosecutor, Nasir Yusuf, requested that the accused be remanded in custody. Magistrate Saidu, presiding over the case, granted the request and ordered that the suspects be held at the Oke Kura Federal Correctional Centre. The case is scheduled for further hearings on December 23, 2024.
Earlier this month, Kwara State Police arrested Samuel, Tiozina, and Agbenke for allegedly committing the gruesome act in the Asunlere area of Oke Oyi, Ilorin.
The police, after receiving reports from residents about a headless body found near a stream, launched an investigation. Photographs taken at the scene showed clear signs of violence around the neck, confirming the beheading.
Further investigations led to the recovery of a motorcycle believed to belong to the victim, as well as an Android phone, which was traced back to Samuel.
The suspects admitted to their involvement in the crime, including discarding the victim’s severed head in a nearby river. Efforts are ongoing to recover the head as evidence.
The arrest and remand of the suspects follow a thorough investigation, which has already led to the recovery of vital evidence and the confession of the suspects.
