Ondo Farmer Arrested for Beating Suspected Thief to Death

A farmer from Ondo State has been arrested for allegedly beating a suspected thief to death in the Odigbo Local Government Area. The incident occurred at Mile 10 along the Ore axis, where the farmer, identified as Adegoke, reportedly attacked the suspected thief and his accomplices after accusing them of stealing his farm produce.

Sources say Adegoke’s attack was prompted by a series of thefts, including the theft of his motorcycle. It is alleged that the suspects, from the nearby Aba Tuntun community, had been repeatedly stealing items such as cocoa pods, kola nuts, and plantains from Adegoke’s farm. The farmer, known locally as Ariya, reportedly managed to capture two out of four suspected thieves.

While one suspect died from the beating, the others were hospitalized. An anonymous source stated that Adegoke had been enduring these thefts for a long time but finally took action when he caught the suspects on his farm.

Following the incident, Adegoke was arrested by the police and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Akure for further questioning.

Police spokesperson Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya confirmed the arrest, noting that Adegoke’s wife had called him to inform him of the presence of thieves on his farm, prompting his return and the subsequent attack. Odunlami-Omisanya added that the investigation was ongoing and that the complainant claimed the suspects were on Adegoke’s property to pick snails, not to steal.