This was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by the police spokesman in the state, Fadeyi Olugbenga.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, asked residents of the state and the general public to immediately hand the suspect over to the nearest police station for necessary action.

The police authorities released the following numbers for the public to reach them: 08035632410 and 07066003536.

This comes barely 24 hours after the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, ordered the the re-arrest of Shodipe, who escaped from the custody of the Oyo State Police Command.

Condemning the unfortunate escape of the suspect, Adamu asked the Commissioner of Police in Oyo to intensify efforts and ensure his prompt rearrest.

According to Force spokesman, Frank Mba, the police commissioner has also been directed to speed up investigations into the circumstances that led to the escape of the suspect.

Mba explained that the IGP has deployed additional investigative aids to Oyo to complement the efforts of the State Police Command in the ongoing manhunt.

Shodipe is the prime suspect in the series of killings in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The 19-year-old was arrested by the police and paraded along with two other suspects on July 17 at the Police Command in Ibadan, the state capital.

They were later charged to court but remanded in police custody before Shodipe escaped on August 8.

The Police Command announced Shodipe’s escape in a statement on Sunday and declared him wanted.

The statement reads in full:

HANDSOME REWARD OF #500,000: SUNDAY SHODIPE ‘M’ 19YRS

A SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER AT AKINYELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, MONIYA OYO STATE.

“The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc wishes to state that handsome reward of Five hundred thousand naira only (#500,000) awaits whoever gives useful information for the arrest of the suspected serial killer at Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, one Sunday Shodipe ‘m’ 19yrs who was arrested and paraded at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters on 17th July, 2020, but later escaped from lawful custody on 11th August, 2020.

“Consequently, the general public is hereby implored to arrest and immediately hand him over to the nearest Police Station for necessary action. The Command can be contacted on GSM Numbers: 08035632410 and 07066003536.

“Kindly give it a repeated broadcast, please.

Fadeyi Olugbenga

Police Public Relations Officer

For: Commissioner of Police

Oyo State Command