Murder Suspect didn’t die in our custody, he died receiving treatment – CP
Murder Suspect didn’t die in our custody, he died receiving treatment – CP
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has refuted claims circulating online that a 26-year-old murder suspect, identified as John, died in police custody.
According to Ogunlowo, the suspect died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
The clarification comes amid widespread reports from online bloggers alleging that the suspect died in detention weeks after his arrest for the brutal killing of Prophetess Abosede Ajibare, a 65-year-old cleric at the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Orisunmbare Parish 2, in Ogun State.
Initial accounts of the incident stated that on May 15, 2025, the suspect was caught attempting to break into the prophetess’s residence using a digging tool.
A neighbour who confronted him was allegedly threatened and fled the scene to notify police officers nearby.
By the time officers arrived, the suspect had already launched a violent attack on Prophetess Ajibare, reportedly using a shovel. The police arrested him at the scene after disabling him with a gunshot to the leg.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed he had been sent to kill the prophetess and her children but refused to name those behind the plot.
Prophetess Ajibare was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta on May 16 but succumbed to her injuries two days later, on May 18.
Following the suspect’s death, the family of the late prophetess claimed he died in police custody. However, the police have maintained that he was alive after arrest and only died later while under medical care.
However, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, stated that the suspect was arrested by officers from the Imala Divisional Police Station. According to CP Ogunlowo, “I called the Divisional Police Officer of Imala Station. The suspect was shot in the leg after trying to flee the crime scene. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. Weeks later, the prophetess died, followed by the suspect, who died in the hospital not in the police station.”
