Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Ogun State have successfully intervened and rescued a 26-year-old man, Timothy Ashamu, who was allegedly compelled to consume a toxic chemical in an apparent retaliatory attack in Oke-Odan, located within the Yewa South Local Government Area.
According to official police reports, the sequence of events began following a robbery accusation in October 2026, during which Ashamu allegedly snatched a Bajaj motorcycle from one Adetunji Vincent along Agosu Road in Oke-Odan. Subsequent investigations by law enforcement revealed that the victim had allegedly admitted to masterminding the theft of multiple motorcycles, reportedly employing weapons such as cutlasses, sticks, and hammers to dispossess his victims.
What happened after the alleged theft?
Retaliation followed when three individuals tracked Ashamu to a farmland within the Oke-Odan community. There, they allegedly subjected him to jungle justice by forcing him to swallow a substance suspected to be Gamaline, a strong agricultural chemical.
Upon being alerted to the dangerous development, operatives attached to the Owode-Yewa Division mobilized quickly to the scene. They rescued Ashamu and immediately conveyed him to a medical facility in Owode-Yewa, where healthcare personnel confirmed he is responding positively to medical intervention.
What did the police command say about the incident?
Addressing the matter, the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, emphasized that law enforcement agencies remain guided by the principle that human life must be protected regardless of an individual's alleged culpability.
"The incident underscores a fundamental principle of professional policing: the protection of human life is not conditional on a person's innocence or perceived character. Even where a person is suspected of serious criminal offences, the law does not permit private individuals to determine or administer punishment," the police spokesperson noted.
Following actionable intelligence provided by the rescued suspect, police detectives moved to Ihunbo and apprehended a suspect identified as Abiodun Oniyide, also known as Aje Alaje. Ashamu reportedly pointed him out as one of the individuals who partook in administering the poison. Authorities recovered a container believed to have held the toxic substance as evidence.
Police authorities confirmed that the detained suspect is currently in custody, while manhunts continue for other fleeing accomplices. The case file is slated for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department situated in Eleweran for comprehensive investigative procedures.