Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a farmer, identified as Adegoke in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo local government area, over the beating of suspected thieves to death.
Adegoke was said to have apprehended two suspected thieves who were on his farm to steal farm produce, beating the two thieves to coma and later confirmed dead at the hospital.
The other suspect was also said to be receiving treatment from the beating of Adegoke who descended on the two suspected thieves with anger.
It was gathered that Adegoke was irked by the frequent visit of the suspected thieves to his farm and stealing of his farm produce and his motorcycle.
A source explained that nemesis caught up with the suspected thieves who hailed from a neighbouring community, Aba Tuntun when Adegoke’s wife alerted him of the invasion by the suspected thieves.
He said, “Some suspected thieves had been stealing the farm produce of Adegoke, popularly called Ariya. But he had been keeping quiet for long.
“However, nemesis caught up with the thieves, as Adegoke was able to get hold of two persons out of four found on his farm.
“Before now, his Cocoa pods, Kola nuts, and plantains had been missing from his farm often and often, including his motorcycle. But he found two persons culpable of the offence.
“Adegoke beat the two persons apprehended to stupor, and in the process, they died and this led to intra-communal tension in the area.”
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, said Adegoke has been arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for investigation.
The State Police spokesman said the complainant claimed the suspected thieves were around Adegoke farm to pick snails and not to steal.
She said it was the wife of Adegoke that called her husband that thieves were on his farm and he returned to attack them.
She, however, said the command has commenced an investigation on the matter.