‘They lied’—Oyo Police Locking Up Suspect Over ₦8,000 Debt
The Oyo State Police Command has strongly refuted viral media reports claiming that a suspect was arrested, prosecuted, and subsequently died in custody over an outstanding ₦8,000 debt.
In an official statement released by the Command, authorities clarified that the individual was actually charged with physical assault and malicious damage to property, rather than financial default.
The Fraud and Assault Incident
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the incident began when the suspect allegedly defrauded a female Point-of-Sale (POS) operator. The suspect is said to have collected ₦23,000 in cash after promising to execute an equivalent bank transfer but left the scene without doing so. He later paid back ₦15,000, leaving a balance of ₦8,000.
The situation escalated dramatically on September 8, 2026. The complainant had held onto the suspect’s phone as collateral for the remaining balance. At approximately 10:00 PM that evening, the suspect reportedly stormed the operator’s residence, physically assaulted her, and destroyed her Airtel SIM registration machine, which is valued at ₦177,000.
Community members and local vigilante groups intervened during the altercation before handing the suspect over to the police.
The Command noted that alternative dispute resolution efforts failed because the complainant firmly insisted on taking legal action due to the assault and property damage.
Remand and Death Claims
The police emphasized that the suspect was arraigned in court strictly for criminal assault and malicious damage. The presiding magistrate granted the suspect bail, but he was remanded to the Agodi Correctional Centre solely because he could not immediately fulfill his bail conditions.
Addressing the online rumors surrounding the suspect’s subsequent passing, the Oyo State Police Command stated it is highly misleading to blame law enforcement or the nature of the arrest for the tragedy without verified facts.
