Police have dismissed as false and misleading reports alleging that a suspect was arrested and charged to court over an N8,000 debt which led to his remand and subsequent death.
The Oyo State Police Command clarified that investigation showed the suspect collected N23,000 cash from a female point-of-sale, POS operator with a promise to transfer the same amount, but left without making the transfer. He later refunded N15,000, leaving N8,000 outstanding.
Police said the complainant held the suspect’s phone pending payment, but on September 8, 2026 at about 10pm, the suspect went to her residence, assaulted her and damaged her Airtel SIM registration machine valued at N177,000.
According to the Command, community members and vigilantes intervened before the case was brought to the station. Efforts to resolve the matter amicably failed as the complainant insisted on court action.
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The suspect was therefore charged for assault and malicious damage, not for the N8,000 debt. The court granted him bail and his remand at Agodi Custodial Centre was due to inability to meet bail conditions at that time.
In a statement,the State Police Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka said it is inappropriate to link the Police case to the reported death without verified facts and urged the public and media to verify information before publication.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
