The Osun State Police Command has reacted to the viral image of a man who allegedly committed suicide inside a police cell.
The deceased, Taofeek Azeez, allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday inside the cell of the police outpost in Agbeye community, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
Azeez had, in an earlier viral video, been seen being publicly paraded by members of Agbeye community after he was arrested for allegedly stealing cocoa seeds.
In the video, a man who spoke in Yoruba was seen beating and asking Azeez what he stole, with some voices in the background replying, cocoa.
Following the arrest and public parade, Azeez was said to have been taken to the community palace where the monarch instructed that he should be handed over to the police.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer for Osun Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, while speaking with a journalist in Osogbo, said Azeez committed suicide in the police cell.
According to Ojelabi, “The deceased was apprehended by the community for alleged stealing of cocoa seeds.
“After arresting him, they took him to the monarch of the town and the king in turn instructed that they should hand him over to the police. He was taken to the police outpost. On getting there, he was questioned, after which he was detained.
“Few hours later, when the officer went to check on him in the cell, he had committed suicide. He committed suicide inside the cell.”
The police spokesperson said the officer in charge will be interrogated, adding that the deceased’s family has been contacted.
“We are taking necessary steps to interrogate the officer in question, but our investigation so far shows that it is a case of suicide and the family has been contacted,” Ojelabi added.
