The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three men in connection with the alleged robbery and killing of a couple and their four children at Oloba Village in Lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan.
The suspects, whose arrests were announced on October 2, 2026, were identified as Hammed Akinbami, 35; Padonu Edward, popularly known as Eddymoore; and Hammed’s younger brother, Akinbami Ojo.
According to the police, the suspects invaded the family’s home on September 22, robbed the occupants and killed a man identified as Baba Chike, his wife and their four children. Some of the victims were allegedly thrown into a nearby river.
The officer handling the investigation, Inspector A.O. Olushola, described the incident as pathetic, saying the attack wiped out the family of six. He alleged that two of the children were tied up while alive and thrown into the river.
Police recovered a locally made Dane gun, cutlasses, a club and a stolen motorcycle from the suspects. Olushola said efforts were ongoing to recover the children’s bodies for autopsy and proper burial.
In his account, Hammed claimed that the incident arose from a dispute over a mobile phone allegedly damaged by Baba Chike about four months earlier.
He said neighbourhood elders had settled the disagreement, but he reopened the matter after Edward encouraged him to demand a replacement.
Hammed alleged that Edward arrived at his house around 4 p.m. on the day of the attack with a cutlass and a club, locally called “Kumo.” He said his younger brother was subsequently invited and also armed himself.
According to Hammed, Baba Chike’s wife handed him ₦50,000 when they arrived at the family’s home, but Edward struck her on the head with the club.
Hammed admitted killing one of the children and Baba Chike. He also alleged that Ojo and Edward tied up two other children and threw them into the river.
Asked why the family was attacked after handing over the money, Hammed said they feared the victims would report them to the police for collecting money by force. He acknowledged that their actions were terrible.
Edward, who identified himself as a farmer from the Benin Republic and said he had lived in Nigeria for 12 years, gave a different account of how he joined the group.
He said Ojo invited him to Hammed’s house, where Hammed told him that Baba Chike owed him money. According to Edward, they agreed to wait until night before visiting the family, and Hammed gave him a cutlass.
Edward admitted that he and Ojo struck the woman with the club but alleged that Hammed ordered the killings.
Ojo, however, claimed that he believed they were going to collect money for the damaged phone and did not initially know of any plan to kill the family.
He admitted luring Baba Chike out of the house by asking him to help check a fish. Although he denied killing anyone, he admitted helping to tie up a five-year-old child and throwing the child into the river.
Ojo claimed he acted after Hammed and Edward threatened to kill him if he refused.
The suspects’ accounts differ on aspects of the attack, including their individual roles. The allegations remain subject to investigation and determination by a court.
