The Ogun State Police Command has rescued a 26-year-old man, Timothy Ashamu, who was allegedly forced to ingest a poisonous substance by three persons suspected to be seeking revenge over his alleged involvement in motorcycle theft.

The police also arrested one Abiodun Oniyide, popularly known as Aje Alaje, who was alleged to have been among the three people who forced Ashamu to drink the poisonous substance at Oke-Odan, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement made available to journalists on Monday by the command’s spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, it was disclosed that Ashamu, who was accused of stealing more than three motorcycles from members of the public, was reportedly attacked at a farm in Oke-Odan, where his assailants allegedly forced him to ingest a substance suspected to be Gamaline.

According to the police, the incident was linked to an alleged motorcycle theft involving one Adetunji Vincent, who reportedly lost his Bajaj motorcycle to Ashamu along Agosu Road, Oke-Odan, in October 2026.

Further police findings indicated that Ashamu allegedly confessed to stealing more than three motorcycles, using weapons such as hammers, sticks and cutlasses to dispossess his victims.

However, the allegations against him reportedly took a disturbing turn when three individuals allegedly accosted him at the farm and forced him to swallow the suspected poisonous substance in an apparent act of retaliation.

Upon receiving information about the incident, detectives attached to the Owode-Yewa Divisional Police Headquarters reportedly swung into action, rescued Ashamu and rushed him to a hospital in Owode-Yewa for medical attention.

The police said the victim was responding to treatment as of the time of the report.

Acting on information from Ashamu, the detectives reportedly went to Ihunbo, where they arrested Oniyide.

The command said the suspect remained in custody, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the other fleeing members of the alleged attack, adding that the case was being prepared for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The statement partly reads, “The incident reportedly originated from an October 2026 robbery allegation in which Ashamu allegedly dispossessed one Adetunji Vincent of his Bajaj motorcycle, along Agosu Road, Oke-Odan. Further police findings indicate that Ashamu allegedly confessed to stealing more than three motorcycles, reportedly using hammers, sticks and cutlasses to dispossess his victims.

“However, the allegations against him took a disturbing turn when he was reportedly accosted at a farm in Oke-Odan by three individuals who allegedly forced him to ingest a substance suspected to be Gamaline in an apparent act of retaliation.

“Upon receiving the report, Detectives of Owode-Yewa Division swiftly mobilised, rescued Ashamu and rushed him to a Hospital in  Owode-Yewa, where he is currently receiving treatment and responding.

“Acting on information provided by the victim, the detectives proceeded to Ihunbo, where one Abiodun Oniyide, also known as Aje Alaje, was arrested. Ashamu subsequently identified him as one of those allegedly involved in administering the substance.”

The statement added that a “container suspected to have contained Gamaline was recovered as an exhibit. The arrested suspect remains in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals allegedly involved in the incident. The case is being prepared for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for discreet investigation.”

The police condemned the alleged act of retaliation, stressing that the suspicion of criminal involvement did not give anyone the right to take the law into their hands. It maintained that the protection of human life remained a fundamental responsibility of the police, irrespective of the allegations against an individual.

It emphasised that suspected offenders should be subjected to lawful arrest, investigation and prosecution rather than mob action, torture or other forms of extrajudicial punishment.

The command urged residents to report criminal activities to the appropriate authorities and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

It reiterated its commitment to protecting lives, investigating criminal activities and ensuring that offenders were brought to justice through due process.