A 38-year-old man, identified as Mike Oje, has reportedly been beaten to death by his neighbours in Mowe, Ogun State, following a disagreement over his interaction with a three-year-old child.
The incident occurred after Oje was allegedly seen hugging and playing with his neighbour’s child.
According to reports, the child’s father became upset and accused Oje of engaging in what he described as “rough play”, leading to a confrontation.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Friday.
Babaseyi said that following the confrontation, some neighbours allegedly picked up a bamboo stick and attacked Oje.
The police spokesperson said Oje reportedly collapsed during the assault after sustaining severe injuries and later died from the injuries.
He added that the child’s father allegedly fled the area with his family after realising that Oje had died and was believed to be hiding at an undisclosed location.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including what transpired immediately before the assault, remain unclear.
Police authorities are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal attack and determine the roles of those involved as the investigation continues.
