The Kogi State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the arrest an alfa (Islamic cleric) identified as Olaitan Apelu following the disappearance of a bricklayer, Samond Akeju Ogunrinde, who left Ekiti State to visit him at Iyara in Ijumu LGA of Kogi State for divination.
According to the information available to Tribune Online, the 36-year-old father of two, hails from Iwoye-Ketu in Ogun State but lives in Ekiti State with his wife and children.
His elder brother, Muideen in Abeokuta said that he had informed the family of his arrival at the alfa’s residence on March 25 with the assurance of returning to his base the same day.
He said the family members were shocked when the bricklayer could not be reached on phone for hours, which rolled into days and weeks.
“When we contacted alfa to ask about our brother’s whereabouts, we were surprised to hear him say that our brother did not come to his house. The matter was immediately reported to the police at Iyara Divisional Headquarters,” the elder brother said.
Muideen explained that when the police stormed his residence, the alfa had taken to his heels, but the operatives arrested his father.
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The elder brother said operatives later arrested him, and found the mobile phone of the victim in his possession, yet the suspect denied knowing of the bricklayer’s whereabouts.
The family’s lawyer, Amos Oghinan, said that the suspect had been transferred to the state headquarters in Lokoja, saying the suspect remained adamant.
Oghinan expressed worry about the police’s delay in charging the suspect to court.
“Already, the alfa is overstaying his visit to the police headquarters. Any human rights organisation can complain about unlawful and long detention. To avoid this, the police should charge the case to court,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kogi state police spokesman, William Aya, disclosed to newsmen on Tuesday that the suspect has been arrested and he will soon appear in court.
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