Three dismissed officers of the Kwara State Police Command have been remanded in prison custody by a court in Ilorin. They are Mr Abiodun Kayode, Mr James Emmanuel, and Mr Oni Philip. They were charged in Magistrate Felicia Sha’ba’s court in Ilorin on Wednesday, 16th October 2024.

They face charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, contrary to Sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code, in connection with the death of Qoyum Abdulyekeen Ishola, an ND student of Electronic Engineering at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.The tragic incident occurred on September 4, 2024, along Afolabi Olaleye Street, off Old-Jebba Road, by Kayowa Filling Station, Ilorin.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) by Police Prosecutor Olajide Emmanuel, “On 05/09/2024, at about 1700 hours, the case was received through a distress call, and the Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, referred it to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Ilorin, for discreet investigation. On 04/09/2024, at about 1715 hours, one Abdulrahman Ero-Alujana, of No. F6, Alagbon Compound, Oke-Adini area of Ilorin, received a phone call from his brother, Yakubu, that his grandson was found lying in a pool of blood along Afolabi Olaleye Street, off Old-Jebba Road, by Kayowa Filling Station.

Upon arriving at the scene, he found his grandson, Abdulyekeen Abdulqoyyum, now deceased, in his pool of blood. He told him that he had been attacked by a policeman. He was quickly rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for medical treatment and was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty while receiving treatment. An investigation led to the arrest of the three policemen who were implicated in the death of Abdulqoyyum.

Further investigation revealed that the three dismissed officers had left their post at Fate Roundabout Pin-down Point and went to the front of Champion School, where they accosted Abdulqoyyum. During the encounter, he was chased and stabbed in the hand, then abandoned in his pool of blood. During discreet investigation, you, Oni Philip, confirmed that you went after Abdulqoyyum on the instructions of Abiodun Kayode and left him in his pool of blood to inform Kayode Abiodun and James Emmanuel. Discreet investigation further revealed that you, Kayode Abiodun, James Emmanuel, and Oni Philip, conspired and caused the death of Abdulqoyyum Abdulqoyyum when you pursued him, stabbed him, and left him in his pool of blood. You are thereby charged with these offences,” the FIR stated.