The Ondo State Police Command announced on Sunday the arrest of Dolapo Babalola, a 39-year-old man, in connection with the killing of Opeyemi Oyelakin, 34, and the subsequent theft of his motorcycle.
According to the police, the incident occurred in Oke-Igbo town in the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of the state on March 15, 2024. Allegedly, Babalola murdered Oyelakin and absconded with his motorcycle.
Commissioner of Police Abayomi Oladipo provided details, stating that the victim, a commercial motorcycle rider, was deceived by Babalola and an accomplice, who is currently evading arrest. They purportedly hired Oyelakin to transport them from Ondo town to a farm in Oke-Igbo.
“After the motorcycle owner reported at the police station that the deceased and his motorcycle were missing,” Oladipo stated, “our officers swiftly initiated an investigation, leading to the apprehension of the suspect through technical intelligence.”
Further interrogation revealed chilling details of the crime. “Upon interrogation of the suspect,” Oladipo continued, “he confessed to how the rider, incidentally his friend, was lured to the crime scene. The suspects then attacked Oyelakin, striking him with a stone and repeatedly hitting his head with wood until he succumbed to his injuries.”
Subsequently, Babalola and his accomplice disposed of the victim’s body by dumping it in a pit and covering it with leaves. Babalola led authorities to the location where Oyelakin’s remains were discovered.
When asked about his motive, Babalola attributed his actions to the influence of malevolent forces, saying, “Truly I can’t explain, it’s just the work of the devil. This person we are talking about is a close friend of mine, his bike is not the first bike I will ever snatch, but I have never killed before.”
Babalola admitted to a history of motorcycle theft, revealing that he had pilfered over 15 motorcycles since 2021, all of which he sold to a buyer in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. He disclosed that the stolen bikes typically fetched prices ranging from N130,000 to N200,000, depending on their condition.
“This particular one was sold for N130,000,” Babalola confessed.
The arrest of Babalola sheds light on the prevalence of motorcycle theft and the alarming escalation of violence associated with such crimes. The tragic loss of Opeyemi Oyelakin serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by individuals in the pursuit of their livelihoods, highlighting the imperative for enhanced security measures and vigilant law enforcement efforts to safeguard communities against criminal activities.
