Osun man dies in police cell after community beating

The family of Taofiki Mustapha, who died in police custody in Osun State after being accused of stealing cocoa pods, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI, demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Mustapha was reportedly beaten and paraded half-naked around Agbeye community before being handed over to the police. He was found dead inside the cell at Agbeye Police Post the following morning.

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The family, in a petition written by law firm L.S Bello & Co. on behalf of Madam Nafisat Taofiki and two Ogboni leaders, called for an investigation into the roles allegedly played by the police post, some community members and the monarch of Agbeye.

The petition, a copy of which was obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, named Mr Mufu Jimoh, Wasiu Egbebi, Taye Olaoye, Chief Ajasa and the Alagbeye of Agbeye among those whose roles should be investigated.

According to the petition, Mustapha was accused of stealing 13 cocoa pods and allegedly beaten before the monarch directed that he be taken to the police.

The family also questioned the theft allegation, stating that investigations had yet to establish whether Mustapha actually stole the cocoa pods.

The Police Public Relations Officer of Zone XI Command, Osogbo, Olanrewaju Ojedele, confirmed that two suspects, including the monarch, had been invited for questioning and subsequently released after making statements.

He said the police were awaiting the postmortem result to establish the circumstances surrounding Mustapha’s death.

Providing further details, Ojedele said Mustapha was accused of stealing cocoa pods on Monday, October 5, beaten and paraded half-naked around the community. He added that the incident was filmed.

According to him, a man was directed to hand Mustapha over to the police, and the officer on duty received him at the police post.

“Unfortunately, the accused was found dead the following morning under suspicious circumstances,” Ojedele said.

He disclosed that Mustapha’s corpse had been deposited at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where a postmortem examination had been conducted.

The police spokesman said the result was being awaited to help investigators determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

Mustapha, who was reportedly a leader in the Ogboni cult society, was a husband to four wives and father of seven children.