Ondo farmer allegedly beats suspected thief to death, injures others

A farmer identified as Adegoke, also known as Ariya, has reportedly beaten a suspected thief to death in the Odigbo Council Area of Ondo State.

The incident occurred on his farm at Mile 10 in Ore, where other suspected thieves were also injured and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

According to police sources, Adegoke accused the suspects of repeatedly stealing from his farm, including his motorcycle and produce. The suspects are said to be from the neighboring Aba Tuntun community.

A local source explained that Adegoke had endured the thefts for some time before taking matters into his own hands. “Some suspected thieves had been stealing the farm produce of Adegoke for a while, but he had kept quiet until now,” the source said.

“However, nemesis caught up with the thieves as Adegoke was able to get hold of two persons out of four found in his farm.

“Before now, his Cocoa pods, Kola nuts, and plantains had been missing from his farm often and often, including his motorcycle. But he found two persons culpable of the offence.

“Adegoke beat them to a stupor, and in the process, one died. And that has led to intra-communal tension in the area.”

Adegoke was subsequently arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for investigation.

Contacted, the state Police spokesman, Funmi Odunlami, said the complainant claimed “the suspected thieves were around Adegoke’s farm to pick snails and not to steal.

Odunlami said that it was the farmer’s wife who reported to him that thieves had again invaded his farm.
She added that the farmer rushed to the scene and attacked the suspects.

The image maker said that police detectives were still investigating the incident.