Ogun police rescue 26‑year‑old suspected bike thief after alleged poison attack

Police in Ogun State intervened on 9 November 2026 to rescue a 26‑year‑old man, Timothy Ashamu, who had been forced to ingest a poisonous substance after being accused of stealing motorcycles. The incident occurred at a farm in Oke‑Odan, within the Yewa South Local Government Area. Detectives from the Owode‑Yewa Division responded to a report, rescued Ashamu and took him to a hospital in Owode‑Yewa where he was reported to be responding to treatment.

According to statements from the police public relations officer, Deputy Superintendent Oluseyi Babaseyi, Ashamu is alleged to have stolen more than three motorcycles, using tools such as hammers, sticks and cutlasses. One of the alleged victims, Adetunji Vincent, reported that his Bajaj motorcycle was taken along Agosu Road in October 2026. Following this alleged theft, three individuals confronted Ashamu at the farm and forced him to swallow a substance believed to be the poison Gamaline.

Background

The alleged thefts by Ashamu date back to October 2026, when he was accused of robbing Adetunji Vincent of his Bajaj motorcycle on Agosu Road in Oke‑Odan. Police investigations later indicated that Ashamu confessed to multiple motorcycle thefts, employing weapons to dispossess owners. The retaliatory attack, described by the police as an attempt at revenge, involved three men who allegedly forced the suspected poison down Ashamu’s throat.

Following the rescue, detectives traced information provided by Ashamu to the village of Ihunbo, where they arrested one suspect, Abiodun Oniyide, popularly known as “Aje Alaje.” Police recovered a container believed to have held the Gamaline as an exhibit. The other two alleged assailants remain at large, and efforts to locate them are ongoing.

Why it matters

The case highlights tensions between community‑based vigilante actions and formal law enforcement in Ogun State. Residents were urged by police to report crimes promptly and avoid taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing that protection of human life is not conditional on a person’s alleged guilt. The incident also underscores the prevalence of motorcycle theft in the region and the potential for violent reprisals. The police’s swift response and subsequent medical care for Ashamu demonstrate the state’s commitment to upholding due process, even for suspected offenders.

What happens next

The Ogun State Police Command has prepared the case for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran for a discreet investigation. The arrested suspect, Abiodun Oniyide, remains in custody while authorities continue to search for the remaining individuals involved in the alleged poisoning. Further legal proceedings are expected as the SCID takes over the investigation.