Three suspects namely, Monsuru Musa, Adija Monsuru, and Shehu Dikko, have been arrested for alleged attempted murder.
They were arrested by the Ogun State Pilice Command for attempting to murder a commercial motorcycle rider identified simply as Tijanni in the Afonta area of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
A police source who spoke on the incident said it happened last Monday at about 6.10 pm, adding that the incident left the commercial motorcyclist with severe injuries on the crown of his head, neck, and lower lip.
The source who narrated the incident, said it all began when Monsuru stopped Tijanni and asked him to take her to the Soyeye area from Lafenwa in Abeokuta.
Monsuru however reportedly asked Tijanni to halt the motorcycle and allow her to call her friend who would be travelling the same route upon reaching an isolated area just before the Soyeye community.
Two other suspects, Musa and Dikko, were said to have arrived at the scene and joined Monsuru on the motorcycles shortly after she made the call.
The police source said Musa and Dikko attempted to strangle Tijanni by tying a rope around his neck and tightening it firmly while the victim was turning the ignition of the motorcycle on.
While this was happening, Monsuru was said to have picked up what was believed to be a large piece of wooden plank and allegedly hit the motorcyclist on the head, causing him to scream for help.
The police source said other motorcyclists, residents, and a team of police officers stormed the scene and apprehended the three suspects before they could escape through a nearby bush.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Odutola Omolola, when contacted on Sunday, said the suspects were members of a notorious syndicate and had intended to steal the motorcycle before they were apprehended.
She added that the victim had been taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
She said, “The female passenger had borrowed the motorcyclist’s mobile phone because she wanted to call a friend who was travelling the same route. But two people arrived at the scene. The three suspects are members of the same syndicate. They specialise in stealing motorcycles. They have been arrested and will be prosecuted.”
