Masqueraders in police net for stabbing job seeker to death in Ondo

MEN of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a masquerader in Akure, Ondo state capital, over the killing of a job seeker, Femi Makanjuola, who was stabbed to death.

The suspects, Olu Olowokere and two others at large were alleged to have killed the deceased around Oke Aro area of the state capital while demanding money from him.

According to a source, the masqueraders demanded for N50 from the young man who was in the area to buy raw beans but he refused to give them money, while three of the masquerades pursued him and eventually stabbed him to death.

The source said Makanjuola who was residing with his brother had just secured a job with Dangote Cement Company, in Benin said “the young man planned to resume work next Monday and he was planning to cook beans on this fateful day when the masqueraders descended on him and stabbed him to death.

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Speaking during the parade of the suspect, the State Police Public Relations Oddiver (PPRO) Femi Joseph, said two of the masquerades and their guide, Olowookere, have been arrested by men of the state police command while two others have taken to their heels.

Joseph said the command had begun investigation into the incident and said the arrested suspect has been assisting the police with relevant information on how to apprehend the two other suspects.

He said “All over the world what we know about masquerade dance is to entertain the people. What happened in Akure was to the contrary and absurd.

“Five young boys were on an outing with one of them acting as a masquerader, and they got to where one Femi Makanjuola was. The masqueraders demanded money which the deceased refused to give and this did not go down well with the masqueraders.

“This led to an argument between them and they eventually stabbed the deceased after he had been thoroughly beaten by the masqueraders and his followers. Investigation is ongoing towards apprehending other accomplices involved in the crime.

However, the suspect, Olowokere denied his involvement in the killing of Makanjuola but confirmed that the deceased was stabbed by one of his followers and said “I’m not the one who stabbed the boy, It’s one of the two masquerades that accompanied me that committed the crime.

“They went back to town after the outing which I didn’t authorise them, It is when the police came to my house that I realised what the boys had done. They are currently on the run,”