A suspected motorcycle thief, Timothy Ashamu, was reportedly forced to drink a poisonous substance by some residents of Oke-Odan in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The police said on Monday that Ashamu had been accused of robbery in October for allegedly dispossessing one Adetunji Vincent of his Bajaj motorcycle along Agosu Road, Oke-Odan.

“Further police findings indicate that Ashamu allegedly confessed to stealing more than three motorcycles, reportedly using hammers, sticks and cutlasses to dispossess his victims,” the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said in a statement on Monday.

In a dramatic turn of events, Ashamu was reportedly accosted at a farm in Oke-Odan by three individuals who allegedly forced him to ingest a substance suspected to be Gamaline.

The police described the act as “retaliatory.”

Babaseyi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said detectives from the Owode-Yewa Division swiftly mobilised after receiving a report of the incident, rescued Ashamu and rushed him to a hospital in Owode-Yewa.

“He is currently receiving treatment and responding,” he said.

The police spokesperson said the detectives, acting on information provided by the victim, proceeded to Ihunbo, where they arrested one Abiodun Oniyide, also known as Aje Alaje.

Ashamu subsequently identified Oniyide as one of those allegedly involved in administering the substance, Babaseyi said.

“A container suspected to have contained Gamaline was recovered as an exhibit.

“The arrested suspect remains in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals allegedly involved in the incident.

“The case is being prepared for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for discreet investigation,” he said.

The command urged residents to report criminal activities promptly and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

“The incident underscores a fundamental principle of professional policing: the protection of human life is not conditional on a person’s innocence or perceived character. Even where a person is suspected of serious criminal offences, the law does not permit private individuals to determine or administer punishment.

“Criminality must be addressed through lawful arrest, investigation and prosecution, never through retaliation, torture or attempted murder. The swift intervention of the police in this instance reinforces the importance of professional policing and the protection of every life,” Babaseyi said. (Daily Trust, excluding headline)