Pastors, Police Constable’s Murder: Police Arrest 78 Suspects

By Rotimi Omole - 29.03.2008

POLICE authorities in Oyo State have arrested 78 suspects, including a woman, alleged to have participated in the mayhem that broke out in Igangan area of Ibarapa on Wednesday.

Two of the five pastors that visited the village for evangelism were murdered by rampaging youths who were alleged to have mistaken them for kidnappers.

The deceased, who were simply identified as Pastor Rosanwo and his wife Tola, were said to have ridden into the town in their Toyota four-wheel drive marked Lagos AAA335FST.

The suspects were alleged to have attacked the duo with dangerous weapons.

The monarch of the town, Oba Labisi Olawuyi Adeoye, was also said to have also been beaten up by the rampaging youths, while his Mercedes Benz car was vandalised.

A police corporal was also alleged to have been killed by the youths, who dumped his corpse in the nearby bush after they had succeeded in snatching his service pistol.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ms. Bisi Okuwobi, told Saturday Tribune that all the 78 suspects apprehended during the mayhem had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for interrogation.

According to the spokesperson, “The suspects will be charged to court as soon as we conclude our investigation.”