The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a former chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, in the state, Rotimi Olabiowonu, popularly known as Metilo, over the alleged murder of a 45-year-old man, Ogunsakin Sunday.
Olabiowonu and another suspect, Adedoyin Opeyemi, were arrested following the death of Sunday, who was allegedly abducted from his residence in Afao-Ekiti and assaulted during a dispute reportedly linked to land.
The incident occurred on Monday, September 14, 2026, at about 8:45pm, according to the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abutu Sunday, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the police, Olabiowonu allegedly arrived at the deceased’s residence with about five other persons in a Toyota bus and forcibly took him away after assaulting him.
The command alleged that the suspects subsequently pushed Sunday out of the moving vehicle, causing him to sustain serious head injuries.
The victim was later taken to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital for medical attention after the suspects reportedly realised the severity of his condition. He was, however, pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.
The police said operatives launched an investigation and manhunt immediately after receiving the report, leading to the arrest of Olabiowonu and Opeyemi, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other alleged members of the group.
The Commissioner of Police has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged assault, abduction and death.
The command urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, while encouraging them to report criminal activities and suspicious incidents to security agencies.
It also advised residents to resolve disputes, particularly land-related disagreements, through lawful channels, assuring the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and impartially.