EDITORIAL: The serial killer in Ibadan

About a week ago, the nation woke up to the shocking news that a nineteen-year old Sunday Shodipe, who had allegedly killed a number of persons in the notorious tradition of a serial killer in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, escaped from the custody of the police in Ibadan after his initial arrest.

The escapee-suspect, along with two others at large, was incriminated in the killings of citizens Azeezat Shomuyiwa (18 years) and Barakat Bello (29 years) and three others.

The public outcry was vociferous, loud, and compelling. It prompted the inspector-general of police to step in by sending a special force to investigate the matter.

A bounty of five hundred thousand naira was placed on the wanted man by the Nigeria Police.

The State Governor Seyi Makinde gave marching orders as well for the re-arrest of the suspect. It is noteworthy that the local traditional ruler also had vowed to deploy all powers within his control to fish the wanted man in the case.

Special prayers were made by Christians and Muslims in Akinyele to complement the efforts of the police.

Fortunately, the fugitive was re-arrested in Bodija area of Ibadan a few days ago, largely because of the hue and cry from all stakeholders in the immediate geographical environment.

The suspect has confessed to the crime, adding that he was requested to fetch human parts for rituals by a ‘babalawo’.

He also narrated that he managed to escape when the police officer monitoring him was ‘discussing’ with another man! The incident provokes many questions on policing methods and integrity in Nigeria.

How did such a dangerous accused person escape from the custody of the police? Were there insiders who connived with him? Did money change hands? Has the DPO in charge of the post been thoroughly grilled? Is this another case of blatant corruption for which the police have become notorious?

Has there been an internal inquiry? Are we likely to get a report of what transpired before during and after the escape?

The ripples which the different murders of the victims generated in many circles especially in Akinyele Local Government Area were because of the dastardly details which we need not graphically repeat here.

But it is fitting to state that people who live in the area had been rightly disturbed over such diabolical activities that recently took a surge in the area.

We still live in a country where human parts, especially female parts, are used for ritual purposes. Some so-called big men patronize voodoo priests believing that human parts can give them an advantage in life, in business or politics.

There have been too many accounts of missing persons whose trunks were later found, with sensitive parts missing.

The notorious so-called Yahoo Yahoo boys thrive on rituals just like their armed robber counterparts. Often, there is a Babalawo lurking somewhere who has assured the scoundrels that he has potent charms that can make them invincible.

Some so-called religious leaders have been reported to practise human sacrifice too so that their enterprise may grow.

This is disgraceful and embarrassing especially in the 21st Century. Yet we live in a country that is supposed to be religious.

The Nigeria Police as currently structured and funded has not and cannot live up to expectations. This is because morale is low. They are poorly paid and equipped.

We recognize the fact there are diligent and intelligent officers in the police. But their efficiency has been hampered by institutional weaknesses.

Corruption, right down from the top hierarchy to the checkpoint officer, is second nature to the police. There have been occasions when police officers colluded with robbers. Informants are often betrayed by some unscrupulous officers.

Such diabolical actions and conduct must end if the police want full cooperation from the citizenry.

Policing requires intelligence gathering, usually supplied by the people. But the people need protection when they volunteer information to the police.

The escape and re-arrest of Shodipe is the kind of drama that we need to avoid in the country. Efficiency and full commitment should be the guiding principle of the police.

We use this opportunity to reiterate our call for a restructured Nigeria in which policing would be in the hands of the constituent parts of the federation, in this case, the state and local government.

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Corruption should be tackled frontally. If policemen as are enmeshed in corruption, they would have no moral ground to arrest people for criminal behaviour.

Finally, the suspects, Shodipe and the Babalawo who he confessed asked him to produce human beings, must be brought to book immediately. His accomplices should also be arrested and made to face the law.

That way the people would be assured that the ends of justice are served. The Nigeria Police should also break all the criminal gangs that trade on human parts.