The Oyo state Command on Friday stated that two police escorts and staff of the deceased popular traditional medicine expert, Alhaji Fatai Yussuf, popularly known as Oko Oloyun are under investigation.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Police Command, Superintendent of Police, Olugbenga Fadeyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday morning.
Fadeyi in the statement with reference number AZ: 5250/OY/PPRO/VOL.5/129, dated Thursday 24th January, 2020, informed that the report of the assassination was sent from the Divisional Police Officer, Igbo-Ora.
The statement while giving details into how Alhaji Yussuf was murdered, said the assailants fired the only shot on his moving convoy from a thick forest.
He revealed that preliminary report linked the act to an”alleged book keeping records fraud in his Lagos office” which it was said “subsequently led to the burning/destruction of some financial/book keeping records.”
The statement reads in part: “The Commissioner of Police Oyo State Police Command, CP. Shina T. Olukolu PSC (+) wishes to put the record straight on the most unfortunate death of Alh. Fatai Yussuf a.k.a ‘Oko Oloyun’ on Thursday, 23rd January, 2020.
“A report was received by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO Igbo-ora, that around Akeroro Area on the Abeokuta/Igbo-Ora/Iseyin road, the two-car convoy of the deceased was allegedly ambushed shortly after passing through five different Police Stop and Search teams along the route by yet to be identified assailants who fired at the moving vehicles on the road from the thick forest.
“The two-man armed escorts of Policemen protecting the deceased engaged the assailants, but they managed to escape back into the forest after a single shot had hit the deceased who died later of his bullet injuries.
“However, an interesting twist to the story was that the deceased probably had earlier detected an alleged book keeping records fraud in his Lagos office which subsequently allegedly led to the burning/destruction of some financial/book keeping records.
“In addition to other possible motives, a plausible nexus is, therefore, being suspected between the fire incident and the attack on the deceased. Meanwhile, some of the staff and his two Police escorts are being questioned by a team of crack detectives from the homicide section of State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Iyaganku, Ibadan, with a view of finding and apprehending the fleeing suspects who wrecked the heinous act.
“The Commissioner of Police, therefore, seizes this opportunity to appeal to any member of the public with credible information not to hesitate in passing same to the Oyo State Police Command to assist in the detection of the crime and apprehension of the offenders, while at the same time, assuring members of the public that the Police is on top of the situation and working with other Police formations/units to ensure that the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, to crack this case as quickly as possible is complied with to the letter.
“In addition, it is our resolve that no matter how long it takes, the Commissioner of Police promises to bring the culprits to justice within the shortest possible time.”