Man who attempted to steal deity statue mentally ill- Police
He did not die as widely reported
A man, Jeremiah Nwoke, who was reported to have attempted to steal a statue of a deity in Ijebu Ode has been identified as a mentally disturbed man.
Widely circulated reports on social media indicated that the man died while attempting to steal the Agemo deity statue at Itoro Roundabout in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Saturday, April 12, 2025,
Police have now clarified that Jeremiah Nwoke did not die, but was apprehended for allegedly vandalizing the statue.
Reports indicate that he removed the crown from the revered statue, which has since been recovered and secured at the Obalende Police Station.
A video circulating online showed a man in a blue shirt lying near the fallen statue, leading to unverified claims that the suspect had died.
The Ogun State Police Command said Nwoke is currently in custody.
Preliminary assessments suggest that Nwoke may be experiencing mental health issues, prompting authorities to place him under psychological evaluation.
The police’s prompt response to the incident helped prevent potential unrest among traditional worshippers, and the community remains calm as investigations continue.
