By Suzan Sunday
The Oyo State Police Command has rejected reports that a student who was recently detained and taken to court was charged over an outstanding ₦8,000 debt.
The Command described as “false, unfounded and misleading” a report titled, “They Ruined My Reputation; Student Commits Suicide After Oyo Police Detention Over ₦8,000 Debt.”
In a statement issued on Friday, September 19, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the deceased was not charged to court over the ₦8,000 debt but over allegations of assault and malicious damage.
According to the Command, investigation revealed that the suspect had approached a female Point-of-Sale (POS) operator to collect ₦23,000 in cash, with the intention of transferring the same amount to her through a POS transaction.
The Police said the suspect collected the cash but left without making the transfer or returning the money.
It added that the suspect later refunded ₦15,000, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦8,000, which he allegedly refused to pay.
According to the statement, the complainant subsequently took possession of the suspect’s mobile phone pending repayment of the outstanding balance.
The Command said that instead of settling the matter, the suspect allegedly went to the complainant’s residence at about 10 p.m. on September 8, 2026, where he assaulted her and damaged her Airtel SIM registration machine, valued at ₦177,000.
The incident reportedly led to the intervention of members of the community, who attempted to resolve the dispute.
The Police said the attempt failed, and the suspect was subsequently handed over to vigilantes, who brought him and the complainant to the police station.
The Command said officers listened to both parties and made another attempt to settle the matter amicably, but the complainant insisted on pursuing the case in court.
“Accordingly, having regard to the facts established during investigation and the evidence available, the suspect was charged to court for assault and malicious damage, and not for the outstanding ₦8,000,” the statement said.
The Police further clarified that the suspect’s subsequent remand at Agodi Correctional Centre was not ordered by the Police over the debt.
According to the Command, the court granted the suspect bail after his arraignment, but he was unable to immediately meet the bail conditions imposed by the court.
He was later released after meeting the conditions, the Police said.
The Command also cautioned against directly linking the reported death of the suspect to the Police case without verified evidence establishing such a connection.
It said the circumstances surrounding the death should be established through appropriate investigation rather than through an inaccurate or incomplete narrative.
The Police urged media practitioners and members of the public to verify information before publishing sensitive reports, particularly cases involving criminal proceedings and loss of life.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, due process, accountability and accurate public communication.
It also urged members of the public to contact the Oyo State Call Response Centre on the toll-free line 615 or the Oyo State Police Command Control Room on 08081768614 and 07055495413 in case of emergencies.
