The police divisional headquarters in Iba, Lagos State, has released Ayomide Obamuyiwa, an electrician they had detained since Friday.
Oluwatobi Adams, a friend of Obamuyiwa’s family, told FIJ on Thursday that the police bowed to media pressure and let the electrician go on Wednesday evening.
Adams said Omolola Opeifa, the station’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO), scolded policemen under her supervision and wondered aloud why the division’s policemen did not inform her of the arrest.
“She said she was not aware, and there was pressure from Abuja to let the man go after reports of his detention went viral on X,” Adams told FIJ.
READ MORE: To Get to Suspect, Lagos Police Abduct His Cousin From Ogun, Demand N2m Bail
On Wednesday, Adams called out the police via his X handle. Moments later, he spoke with FIJ to aid the report on the injustice Obamuyiwa had been subjected to.
According to Adams, the police travelled to Ijebu Ode in Ogun State on Friday in search of Idowu Usman, whom they suspected of purchasing a stolen phone.
When the policemen did not meet Usman at home, they took Obamuyiwa into custody and demanded his family provide his cousin (Usman). The family did so on Tuesday, but the police demanded N2 million to let Obamuyiwa go.
When FIJ called Opeifa on Wednesday, she said she was not aware of the matter but would investigate.
Despite Obamuyiwa’s release, the police continue to hold Usman in detention without charge.
Subscribe
Be the first to receive special investigative reports and features in your inbox.