A 43-year-old man, identified as Edebiri Temitope, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly beating his 38-year-old neighbour, Mike Oje, to death in Mowe, Ogun State, following a disagreement over the deceased’s interaction with his three-year-old child.
Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest on Friday, September 25, 2026, saying the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
According to the police, the incident occurred after Oje allegedly hugged and played with the suspect’s child, an action that reportedly angered the father.
Babaseyi said the suspect accused Oje of engaging in what he described as “rough play” with the child before allegedly attacking him with a bamboo stick.
The police spokesperson said the suspect repeatedly struck Oje until he collapsed and died from the injuries sustained during the assault.
Oje, a university graduate with a degree in Guidance and Counselling, was reportedly attacked in the Mowe area of Ogun State.
Following the incident, the suspect allegedly fled the area with his family and went into hiding.
However, the police later confirmed that Temitope had been arrested in connection with Oje’s death.
In a statement, Babaseyi said the suspect, who was earlier reported to be at large, had been apprehended and moved to the State CID in Eleweran for further investigation.
The latest development comes amid calls for justice by the deceased’s family.
In an earlier interview with PUNCH, Oje’s cousin, Peter Adum, described him as a friendly person who had recently completed his university education and was preparing to begin the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Adum said the family was relying on the police and the judicial system to ensure that those responsible for Oje’s death were brought to justice.
