Police save man forced to drink poison over motorcycle theft in Ogun

The Ogun State Police have rescued a 26-year-old man named Timothy Ashamu. He was allegedly forced to drink a poisonous substance by three people seeking revenge for his supposed role in motorcycle theft.

The police arrested one suspect, Abiodun Oniyide, popularly known as Aje Alaje. He was said to be among those who made Ashamu drink the poison at Oke-Odan in Yewa South Local Government Area.

According to a statement from the police, Ashamu was accused of stealing over three motorcycles. He was attacked at a farm in Oke-Odan, where his attackers allegedly made him swallow a substance believed to be Gamaline.

This incident is connected to an alleged motorcycle theft involving a man named Adetunji Vincent. Vincent reportedly lost his Bajaj motorcycle to Ashamu along Agosu Road in Oke-Odan back in October 2026.

The police found that Ashamu confessed to stealing more than three motorcycles. He reportedly used weapons like hammers, sticks, and cutlasses to rob his victims.

But things took a dark turn when three men confronted him at the farm. They forced him to drink the suspected poison as a form of retaliation for his alleged crimes.

After learning about the attack, detectives from the Owode-Yewa Divisional Police Headquarters acted quickly. They rescued Ashamu and took him to a hospital in Owode-Yewa for treatment.

The police said Ashamu was responding well to treatment at the time of the report. Based on Ashamu's information, detectives went to Ihunbo and arrested Oniyide.

The police confirmed that Oniyide is in custody. They are still working to catch the other suspects who are on the run. The case will be sent to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The police statement said, "The incident reportedly started from an October 2026 robbery allegation where Ashamu supposedly took Adetunji Vincent's Bajaj motorcycle along Agosu Road, Oke-Odan. Further police findings show that Ashamu confessed to stealing more than three motorcycles, using hammers, sticks, and cutlasses to take them from his victims."

It continued, "However, things took a serious turn when he was confronted at a farm in Oke-Odan by three individuals who forced him to consume a substance believed to be Gamaline in retaliation."

"Upon receiving the report, detectives from Owode-Yewa acted fast, rescued Ashamu, and rushed him to a hospital in Owode-Yewa, where he is currently receiving treatment and doing well."

The statement also said that a container believed to have held Gamaline was recovered as evidence. The arrested suspect is in custody, and the police are still looking for the others involved. The case is being prepared for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The police condemned this act of revenge. They said that being suspected of a crime does not give anyone the right to take the law into their own hands. Protecting human life is a key duty of the police, no matter what allegations are against someone.

The police stressed that suspected criminals should be arrested and investigated legally, not attacked or tortured. They urged community members to report crimes to the right authorities and avoid taking justice into their own hands.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting lives, investigating crimes, and ensuring that those who break the law face justice through proper channels.