Two men from the Osun State Police Command have been apprehended for allegedly attacking an artisan while installing street solar lights in their community. The men are thought to be members of a street gang.

According to reports, the suspects, Yusuf Jamiu, 27, and Oyebisi Yusuf, 23, caused trouble in the Ifon-Osun community in the Orolu Local Government Area of the state because they did not receive the N1.5 million bribe they demanded from the philanthropist who gave the community the solar light.

The solar street light was said to have been purchased by an enthusiastic community member.

However, as the installer, Prince David Akinyooye, began to fix it, the duo and an additional individual, who is more commonly referred to as Ola and is currently on the loose, stormed the scene with dangerous weapons and demanded that they be paid a bribe before the installation could be completed. 

During the installation, the suspects allegedly swooped on Akinyooye and beat him to a coma. They were also accused of threatening the community's peace with cutlasses and guns.

While their gang leader managed to flee, the police detained Jamiu and Oyebisi.

They were charged with assault, conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a disturbance of peace, and attempted murder on six counts in front of an Osogbo Chief Magistrate's Court.

On December 24, 2022, the accused assaulted Babatunde and stole his bag, which contained a National Identity Card, Voter Card, and the sum of N72, 000, according to the police prosecutor, Taiwo Adegoke.

The charge against them read that “Yusuf Jamiu and Oyebisi Yusuf (males) with others now at large, on the 24th of December 2022 at Ayetoro area, Ifon-Osun, did conspire to commit felony with assault, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, attempted murder by carrying guns and other dangerous weapons with intent to inflict injury on one Prince Akinyooye David Babatunde and causing fear to the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You, Yusuf Jamiu, Oyebisi Yusuf, with others now at large, on the same date and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did beat one Prince Akinyooye David Babatunde up with a dangerous weapon. As a result, he sustained injury on his right eye after demanding for the sum of N1.5 million and pieces of solar light before he could install the public solar light and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You did steal bags containing National I.D Card, Voter Card and the sum of N72,000 (Seventy-two thousand naira only) from Akinyooye David Babatunde and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You did go round in the public with guns, cutlass and other dangerous weapons with intent to cause terror to people and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 80 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You did form a group armed with dangerous weapons like guns, sticks with intent to commit felony or misdemeanor and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 509 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“You did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by obstructing one Akinyooye David Babatunde during the installation of the street solar light for public use and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”

While countering the charges against them, the duo noted that they weren't guilty of the charges.

However, Kehinde Adepoju, their attorney, was unable to apply for their bail because Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara had ordered that they be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Center.

According to Ayilara, the matter ought to be discussed on January 9 at the Ifon-Osun Magistrate's Court.