The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested Ibobuminaten Oweifa, the son of the traditional ruler of Okodi Community in Ogbia Local Government Area, for allegedly tying a man with wire and setting him ablaze over an accusation of stealing plank wood.
Bayelsa Commissioner of Police Iyamah Daniel Edebor disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Yenagoa on Thursday.
He said the incident occurred on June 24, 2026, at about 7:05 p.m., when the suspect allegedly accused the victim, Godgift Biko, of stealing plank wood before restraining him with wire and setting him on fire using fuel and a lighter.
According to the police, officers attached to the Okodi Division responded swiftly after receiving the report, rescued the victim, and arrested the suspect.
Biko was rushed to a clinic in Okodi Community, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
The police said investigations are ongoing and that the suspect will be charged to court upon their conclusion.
Condemning the incident, Edebor warned against jungle justice and all forms of violence, stressing that no one has the right to take the law into their own hands.
He urged residents to report suspected criminal activities to law enforcement agencies rather than resorting to self-help.
