Operatives of the Ogun State Security Network, Amotekun Corps, have arrested a 45-year-old man, Gbenga Ogunfadeke, for allegedly chaining and locking his two children, which led to their deaths.

The suspect, a father of three, was arrested in Ibiade, Waterside Local Government Area of the state.

The State Commander of Amotekun, David Akinremi, confirmed the arrest of the suspect in a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

According to him, the suspect who accused his children of stealing, was chained and locked them in solitary confinement without food and water for over three months which led to their death.

He said the suspect had been maltreating the children, whose ages range from 16, 17 and 18 since he took custody of them following his crashed marriage with their mother, Busola Otusegun.

The Amotekun commandant said the suspect was arrested following a complaint by his ex-wife.

He said, “One of the three children came across his aunty in Ibiade where he currently lives with his father (suspect) and narrated their experience with their father which led to the deaths of his two elder siblings – Yusuf Ogunfadeke (18) and Dasola Ogunfadeke (17), between April and June, 2022 in Ijebu-Ode, where they were all living with the suspect until he relocated to Ibiade.

“According to him (the child), their father chained and locked them in solitary confinement, without food and water for over three months which led to the deaths of the two siblings, but he miraculously survived the ordeal.”

He disclosed that the suspect when interrogated, admitted the alleged confinement of the children for months, but denied not feeding them and being responsible for their deaths.

According to the suspect, his action was based on the children’s involvement in stealing, hence the need to ensure they were prevented from such criminal acts.

He added that the suspect claimed that the two deceased children were taken to hospital for treatment at different times when they fell ill, but unfortunately died in the process.

“What is however curious about his defence is that the hospital where he claimed the two children died in Ijebu Ode could neither be located nor the place where he allegedly buried them behind a rented apartment he lived in Ijebu-Ode before relocating to his present abode in Ibiade with the third child for possible exhumation be traced.

“The fact that he refused to make the incidents known to any member of the family also gives cause for concern, especially as the suspect is a herbalist, thus further fueling the suspicion of having killed the deceased for possible rituals.

“Consequently, the case is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation with a view to establishing further facts that will facilitate his prosecution.”