The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Joel Nwachukwu Enwonwu on Tuesday confessed that the escape of alleged serial killer, Sunday Shodipe from lawful police custody gave him the greatest nightmare in his career.
The police boss also added that when he learned about the escape of Shodipe, the alleged serial killer in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state from police custody at Mokola in Ibadan, the experience gave him sleepless nights until the suspect was re-arrested by men under his command.
He made the confession while featuring on a live program, Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio aired on a private radio station in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
The notorious suspect, who claimed to be 19 years old, supposedly escaped after a police officer, who was said to be off duty opened the cell for him in order to take a bath.
CP Enwonwu further explained that the incident not only made the Inspector-General (IG) of police to call him but that it raised an uproar internationally with people contacting him from the United States Of America (USA), Italy and others.
“It was the greatest nightmare of my life. I had sleepless nights because people were saying all sorts of things and they kept calling me, that I should be removed from my post, even though they knew that I was not the one responsible for his escape. The society was not fair to us.
“Some said he disappeared. There is nothing like disappearing. The police officer who opened the cell for him was unprofessional in his conduct, saying the suspect wanted to take a bath.
“He was not even on duty. He collected the key from another officer who was on duty and opened the cell. They are both in police custody now and they’re going to pay for it, their matters have left Command level”, he said.
On the whereabouts of the others who were also paraded with Sunday Sodipe earlier, Enwonwu said that they are all still in custody.
He continued, “I have learnt a bitter lesson with this case. The society is ruthless and unfair to us policemen. I felt sad about the reaction of our people. One policeman caused embarrassment. You definitely cannot use one person to judge the whole system. People know the truth. Was I the one holding the key? They should know that in any twelve, there is always a Judas. You can’t use only one person to judge others. I can never behave like that to others.
“For example, I cannot say that all journalists are bad. It will be unfair. I know there are so many fine and professional journalists. If one does something bad, all I need to do is just single him out. The Shodipe saga taught me a very big lesson”..
Enwonwu, however lauded the Seyi Makinde led Oyo state government for doing so much to support the state command under him.
“Before I came into office in Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde had bought vehicles and upgraded so many of our facilities. Like Oliver Twist, I will still want to implore him that there are still many things we will want him to do for us. Security maintenance is a serious assignment, we need all the support we can get.”
