The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the immediate arrest of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Nwachukwu Enuwonwu following the alleged escape of serial rapist and killer, Sunday Shodipe from Police custody in Ibadan.
The student umbrella body also called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu to order the Police Commissioner to produce the suspect within the next 72 hours.
The student umbrella body in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Comrade Azeez Adeyemi in Abeokuta on Tuesday, insisted that, if the Oyo State Commissioner of Police fails to produce the suspect within the next 72 hours, he should be made to stand trial in place of the suspect.
The 19-year-old Shodipe, an alleged serial rapist and killer who was facing trial for several killings in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State was reported to have escaped from Police custody on Tuesday, August 11.
The Oyo State Police Command in a statement by its Spokesman, Olugbenga Fadeyi confirmed Shodipe’s escape to journalists on Sunday.
But, NANS while reacting to the development, said all those responsible for the escape of the suspect should be arrested and charged to court.
NANS accused the Oyo State Police Command of covering up the truth, alleging that “the Police may have released the suspect and are then trying to cover it up.
“This is the height of ridicule the Nigeria Police will subject Nigeria and Nigerians to. The Oyo State Command should be ashamed of itself.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to order the immediate arrest of Oyo State Commissioner of Police and other top Police officers in the State to serve as deterrent to others.
“We suspect that something is fishy about this whole issue. Otherwise, how can the Police in Oyo State come out openly to tell Nigerians that a suspect who is standing trial escaped from their custody?
“It is shameful, demeaning, unreasonable, embarrassing and preposterous for the Police in Oyo State to be asking Nigerians to help rearrest a suspect who Nigerians, themselves helped facilitated his initial arrest, but due to the negligence and unprofessional attitude of the Police led to his escape.
“Why is the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the Chief Security Officer of the State, not saying anything about this ridiculous show of shame going on under his nose?
“Why is their a graveyard silence in Oyo State when everybody should be worried about this?
“The student community is the victim in all this mess. The notorious killer confessed to raping and killing many ladies, majority of whom were students.
“Therefore, we cannot stand and fold our arms and watch another evil befall students again in Oyo State. The Police must produce the suspect within the next 72 hours or face the full wrath of students in Nigeria”, Adeyemi said.
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