The death of a middle-aged man, Aanu Olanusimi, while in the custody of the Idanre Police Division in Ondo State has sparked demands for justice from his family.
Olanusimi, who was a farmer, passed away in November shortly after being accused and arrested for allegedly stealing cocoa from the farm of a local chief, Akinruli, at Irikose in Ago Oni Rice Village, Idanre.
In a petition addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State, the deceased’s mother, Comfort Olanusimi, asserted that her son was arrested by a police officer named ‘Londo’ and Chief Akinruli while he was on his farmland. They accused him of stealing cocoa seedlings from Akinruli’s farm.
Mrs. Olanusimi stated that her son decided to accompany the police officer and Akinruli on a motorcycle to the police station after questioning the accusation. However, en route to the station, Olanusimi reportedly vomited and was rushed to a hospital in Idanre. He was later transferred to a hospital in Akure, where he was pronounced dead upon his mother’s arrival.
The family has not been able to retrieve Olanusimi’s body from the authorities despite his mother’s insistence. They have appealed to the AIG to intervene in the case and take over the investigation for further action and the release of the deceased’s body.
The police spokesperson in Ondo, Femi Joseph, confirmed that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adie Undie, is already looking into the case. He emphasized that the incident occurred at Idanre Police Station and was currently under investigation. Additionally, Joseph denied the accusation that the police are withholding the man’s corpse.