Twenty-year old Sunday Shodipe, suspected serial killer, in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State said, on Friday, that he received a paltry N500 and a plate of amala to kill each of his victims.
Shodipe made the confession while being paraded alongside two accomplices and 18 other suspected hoodlums at the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The alleged serial killer was said to have broken into the residence of the late Azisat Somuyiwa, a 29-year-old pregnant woman at Ijefun, L-Adisa Community, Ojoo area of Ibadan on June 4.
He made away with the lady’s Tecno phone around 11pm after hacking her victim down.
A detachment of men from the Special Anti- Robbery Squad and the Criminal Investigation Department were dispatched to the area after the incident was reported at the Ojoo Divisional Police Station.
The Commissioner of Police, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, who spoke during the parade on Friday, said, “After discreet investigation by a team of SARS operatives, Shehu Usman was arrested in connection with the crime and the Tecno phone belonging to the slain woman was recovered from him.
“The suspect denied his involvement in the crime but gave useful information which led to the arrest of a notorious hoodlum who identified himself as Sunday Shodipe, aged 20.
“The suspected criminal confessed to have single-handedly masterminded the crime and explained in details how he invaded the victim’s residence where she was brutally attacked, robbed her before she was later murdered in cold blood.”
Shodipe confessed to the crime saying he was behind the killings in Akinyele Local Government Area.
The suspect explained that he always targeted famale victims whom he would attack with dangerous weapon (shovel), rob and hack to death.
Pointing at Adedokun Ajani, a.k.a Olosanyin, a 50-year-old herbalist, he said, “I was sent by this man. Baba is an herbalist in my area, I am his apprentice. He usually sends me out on the mission. I usually hit people on the head with shovel. Before going for operation, Baba would asked me to kneel down and close my eyes. He would do recite incantations and tell me to go out and hit my target with this shovel adding that I must wait to confirm that the person is dead before leaving the scene.
“He used to say that I should immediately recite an incantations after I might have hit my target on the head and stay at the place for at least, five minutes assuring me that nobody would see me. According to him, a ghost would have sexual intercourse with the dead victim and after the five minutes I should leave the scene. After returning to Baba’s house, he usually gave me the sum of N500 and a plate of amala.”
He said, “The last victim that I attacked did not die. I didn’t remembered to recite the incantations. Some local hunters saw me while leaving the scene. I sold the phone that I stole from one of the operations to this guy (Shehu Usman). I told him that the phone was locked but he insisted on buying it. He paid me the sum of N5,000.”
Ajani, who admitted that Shodipe was his former apprentice, however, denied the allegation saying he never sent him on a mission to kill.
He said, “I know him, he was my apprentice, but I don’t know about all these killing he is talking about; I didn’t send him on such errand. I’m an herbalist but not a ritualist. I don’t do rituals.”
Some of the survivors of Shodipe’s attack said they were eager for justice to take its course on him.
Adeola Azeez, 45, and her daughter, 23-year-old daughter, Oyeyemi Dolapo 23, said the hoodlum broke into their home and inflicted several deep cuts on them with a shovel. Azees said, “It happened at night. He first attacked my daughter by hitting her head with the shovel. I rushed to her room when I heard her cry. Before I knew what was happening, he rushed at me and began to hit me with shovel. He escaped without the shovel.”
Mrs. Rasheedat Bello, mother of Barakat, who was also slain at Akinyele recently, urged the authorities to ensure that criminals are brought to justice on time to serve as deterrent to others.
Bello said, “I was not at home on the fateful day so I am not an eye witness. I was called. Now that the suspected criminal has been arrested, it cannot replace my daughter, but I want true justice to be done. My daughter was my source of happiness she was a quiet girl.”
Ridwanulahi Adewale, late Azizat’s husband, said, “The police did their best, I think it was because of the pressure from members of the public. I want true justice over this case.”
Other suspects included Uchechukwu Okenwa, 44; Adebayo Michael, 20; Muhammadu Saidu, 18; Shuaibu Musa, 18; and Usman Umar, 25, who are armed robbers and criminal receivers.
The CP said, “You can recall that in my maiden briefing on June 30, the command showcased 32 suspected criminals who allegedly committed various crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery to murder. I made promise that criminal elements carrying out dastard killings at Akinyele Local Government Area of Moniya and its environs would be arrested and brought to book.
“Consequent upon this, the command embarked on an aggressive community policing. The cooperation of the affected community leaders, officers , men of the command, government and people of the state eventually paid off.”
