Police rescue suspected motorcycle thief from poisoning in Ogun, arrest one

By Adebola Muili

The Ogun State Police Command has rescued a 26-year-old man, Timothy Ashamu, who was allegedly forced to ingest a substance suspected to be Gamaline by three men in Oke-Odan, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state, following allegations that he had stolen several motorcycles.

One of the suspected assailants, identified as Abiodun Oniyide, popularly known as Aje Alaje, has been arrested, while the police have launched efforts to apprehend two other suspects allegedly involved in the incident.

The incident reportedly occurred after Ashamu was accosted at a farm in Oke-Odan, where the three individuals allegedly forced him to swallow the suspected poisonous substance in an apparent act of retaliation over his alleged involvement in motorcycle theft.

According to the Ogun State Police Command, the development followed a robbery allegation in October 2026, when Ashamu allegedly dispossessed one Adetunji Vincent of his Bajaj motorcycle along Agosu Road, Oke-Odan.

Further police findings reportedly indicated that Ashamu confessed to stealing more than three motorcycles, allegedly using weapons, including hammers, sticks and cutlasses, to dispossess his victims.

Following a report of the suspected poisoning, detectives attached to the Owode-Yewa Division swiftly mobilised, rescued Ashamu and rushed him to a hospital in Owode-Yewa, where he is currently receiving medical attention and responding to treatment.

Acting on information provided by the victim, the detectives proceeded to Ihunbo, where Oniyide was arrested. Ashamu subsequently identified him as one of the individuals allegedly involved in forcing him to ingest the substance.

A container suspected to have contained Gamaline was also recovered as an exhibit, while the arrested suspect remains in police custody.

The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the other individuals allegedly involved in the attack, adding that the case was being prepared for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for further investigation.

The police condemned the resort to self-help, stressing that allegations of criminal conduct do not give individuals the right to take the law into their hands or inflict punishment on suspects.

The command emphasised that the protection of human life remained a fundamental responsibility of the police, irrespective of an individual’s alleged criminal conduct or perceived character.

It maintained that even persons suspected of serious offences were entitled to the protection of the law and must be subjected to lawful arrest, investigation and prosecution rather than torture, retaliation or other forms of jungle justice.

The command therefore urged residents to report criminal activities promptly to the appropriate authorities and resist the temptation to administer punishment outside the established legal system.

It reiterated that the police would continue to protect lives, investigate reported crimes and pursue justice, regardless of the identity or alleged offences of those involved.