Outrage in Ekiti! Lecturer Demands Answers After Wife's Attacker Escapes Custody

 

A university lecturer in Ekiti State, Israel Dada, has expressed outrage and frustration after a notorious robber who brutally attacked his wife, Mary, mysteriously escaped from police custody.

The suspect, identified as Ayomide, reportedly stabbed Mary multiple times inside their home at Bode Thomas Housing Estate, Ogbomoso Road, Ofameta, Oyo State, on February 1, 2025. Community members, who caught and apprehended the suspect shortly after the attack, handed him over to the police. However, to the shock of Mary’s family, Ayomide later escaped while supposedly receiving treatment under police watch.

The distraught husband was left devastated when officers at the Atiba Police Division informed him that the suspect had mysteriously broken free from his handcuffs and fled.

In an interview with Punch, Dada made an emotional plea to Nigerians and the police authorities, urging them to ensure that the escaped suspect is tracked down and brought to justice.

"She had several deep cuts and was bleeding profusely. The community caught him and took him to the police station. The police told us they took him to the hospital," he explained.

"But to our shock, on Monday morning, they claimed he had escaped from the hospital where he was receiving treatment while an officer was supposedly watching him. How does a violent robbery suspect just disappear from police custody? The police have not explained. I suspect they connived with his relatives to set him free."

Dada also expressed outrage over the fact that the suspect was not taken to a government hospital, raising concerns about foul play.

"This is injustice. There is a conspiracy to keep this criminal away from prosecution, and I demand justice for my wife."

Recounting her horrific experience, Mary revealed that she had just returned home from Ibadan around 4:30 p.m. when she noticed her dog barking uncontrollably. Unbeknownst to her, the attacker was already inside the house, watching her every move.

"As I raised my head, this boy was already in front of me. He held a knife to my neck and said he would kill me if I made a sound. Before I could think, he started stabbing me. He stabbed my forehead and nose more than 10 times," she recalled.

Despite her pleas, Ayomide continued his violent assault, taking her purse containing just ₦4,000 before delivering one final stab to her eye and fleeing the scene.

Bleeding profusely, Mary managed to stumble outside, where a kind resident rushed her to the hospital.

"I have not been myself since then," she said, still traumatized by the near-fatal encounter.

A senior officer at the Atiba Police Division confirmed the suspect’s escape, explaining that he had been badly beaten by the community and was unconscious when taken into custody. He was handcuffed at the hospital, but the officer guarding him reportedly stepped away to change his clothes. By the time he returned, the suspect had broken free and disappeared.

"We have gone to his father’s house, but the man said he had disowned him. His grandmother also refused to help. We are working tirelessly to re-arrest him and will not rest until he is caught," the officer stated.