Chief Arrested For Forcing Suspected Thief To Drink Poison In Osun

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a traditional chief, identified as Chief Ajibade, for allegedly administering a poisonous substance to a young man accused of stealing maize from his farm in Ilesa.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, the incident occurred in the Ireti Ayo area of Ilesa and has sparked widespread outrage. Ojelabi assured that the matter is under thorough investigation and urged residents to remain calm.

A viral video from the scene shows a young man, later identified as 25-year-old Ebenezer, sitting on the ground beside two cobs of maize. He was surrounded by a group of men, including one holding a large stick and another elderly man wielding a cutlass. In the footage, the elderly man—allegedly Chief Ajibade—is seen forcing a visibly distressed Ebenezer to drink from a plastic cup containing a yet-to-be-identified substance.

Following the incident, concerned residents reportedly rushed Ebenezer to Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, where medical personnel successfully neutralised the poison.

A community member who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that misinformation regarding the young man’s fate reached his father, who was told that his son had died as a result of the poisoning. Stricken by shock, the father reportedly collapsed and died.

SP Ojelabi provided further details:

“The suspect, Chief Ajibade, aged 62, caught Ebenezer stealing two cobs of maize from his farm. He beat him and forced him to ingest a substance. Fortunately, the young man survived after urgent medical attention. However, his father died after receiving false news that his son had died.”

The suspect has since been arrested in his hometown of Ipetu Ijesa and transferred to Osogbo for further investigation.

Ojelabi affirmed the Command’s commitment to justice, stating that all parties involved would be interrogated thoroughly to determine the full extent of the crime.

The incident has drawn condemnation from human rights groups, who have called for a full prosecution under the law, describing the act as extrajudicial and inhumane.