Family demands investigation into man's death in Osun police cell

The family of Taofiki Mustapha, who died while in police custody at Agbeye Police Post, is asking the Assistant Inspector-General of Police at Zone XI Command headquarters in Osogbo, Osun State, to look into how he died.

Reports say Mustapha, a husband with four wives and father to seven children, was found dead in a police cell. He was arrested by some residents in Agbeye for allegedly stealing cocoa pods and handed over to the police.

Abiodun Ojelabi, the Osun Police Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident. He said, "The deceased was apprehended by the community for allegedly stealing cocoa seeds. After arresting him, they took him to the monarch of the town and the king instructed that they should hand him over to the police."

The family, who say Mustapha was a leader in the Ogboni cult society, has written a petition to the AIG. A copy of the petition was obtained by The PUNCH in Osogbo on Tuesday.

The petition, written by L.S Bello & Co. law firm, is on behalf of Madam Nafisat Taofiki, Oba Aree Ogboni-Abdul Wahab Oriade, and Are Ogboni Kwara Awoyemi Elegbede. They want an investigation into the actions of “Police Post Agbeye, Mr Mufu Jimoh, Wasiu Egbebi, Taye Olaoye, Chief Ajasa, and Kabiyesi Alagbeye of Agbeye” related to the incident.

The petition states, “Taofiki Mustapha was alleged to have stolen cocoa pods (13), and the above-named people beat him. The Kabiyesi Alagbeye of Agbeye then ordered that Taofiki Mustapha be taken to the police post after the beating.

“Our clients further state that Taofiki Mustapha died inside the cell of Police Post Agbeye. Investigations have yet to confirm that the deceased actually stole the cocoa pods."

When asked about the petition, Olanrewaju Ojedele, the Police Public Relations Officer at Zone XI Command headquarters in Osogbo, said two suspects have given statements regarding the matter.

“Two suspects, Kabiyesi and another person, have been invited and they wrote statements on the issue. They were released after. We are waiting for the postmortem result to find out more details. The result will help the police understand the circumstances of the death,” he said.

Ojedele added, “On Monday, October 05, he (Taofiki) was accused of stealing cocoa pods. He was beaten and paraded around Agbeye community half-naked, and he was filmed half-naked.

“A man was told to take the accused to the police at Agbeye Police Post, and the police received him. Unfortunately, the accused was found dead the next morning under suspicious circumstances.

“The corpse has been taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital. A postmortem examination has been completed, and they are waiting for the results.