Police Arrest Masquerade Over Alleged Killing Of 24-Year-Old Man In Ibadan; Four Suspects At Large

Ibadan, Oyo State– The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a masquerade identified as Asoleke over the alleged killing of a 24-year-old man, Sefiu Kehinde, during a violent attack in the Labiran area of Ibadan, the state capital.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday, July 5, 2026, has sparked a full-scale police investigation, with authorities confirming that four other suspects linked to the attack are currently at large.

In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Oluseyi Olayinka, the police disclosed that the incident was reported at the Mapo Divisional Police Headquarters by a relative of the deceased.

According to the statement, the complainant alleged that Kehinde was attacked by the Asoleke masquerade and some of its followers while they were parading through the community.

The attackers were said to have allegedly assaulted the 24-year-old with axes and cutlasses, inflicting multiple severe injuries on various parts of his body.

Police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Mapo Division responded immediately after receiving the distress report and rushed the victim to a hospital for treatment.

However, a medical doctor later confirmed Kehinde dead on arrival.

The police said the crime scene was subsequently processed and documented, while the deceased’s family obtained the necessary approval to bury his remains in accordance with Islamic rites.

The Command confirmed that the Asoleke masquerade had been taken into custody, while four other suspects believed to have participated in the fatal attack fled the scene and are being hunted by security operatives.

Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a comprehensive investigation.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could assist investigators.

“The Oyo State Police Command remains committed to the protection of lives and property and will ensure that all individuals found culpable in this incident are brought to justice.”