Man Butchers Elder Brother With Heavy Rock Over ‘Dream Shooting’ In Oyo

Sepeteri, Oyo State – A 43-year-old man, Lateef Suleiman, of Alegunlode Compound in Sepeteri, has been arrested for allegedly killing his 52-year-old elder brother, Mustapha Amidu, by smashing his head with a heavy rock after claiming the deceased shot him in a dream.

The shocking fratricide occurred when Suleiman woke up from sleep on Tuesday morning, fully convinced that his elder brother had attacked and shot him while he slept. Instead of shaking off the nightmare, he allegedly walked up to Mustapha where he was seated, grabbed a heavy rock and struck him repeatedly on the head before fleeing the scene.

Confirming the incident in a statement released on Wednesday, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said: “One Badmus Yunisa ‘m’ of Alegunlode Compound, Sepeteri, reported that Lateef Suleiman ‘m’, aged 43 years, attacked his elder brother, Mustapha Amidu ‘m’, aged 52 years, following an accusation that the deceased had shot him in a dream while he was asleep the previous night.

“Acting on this claim, the suspect allegedly approached the deceased where he was seated, picked up a heavy rock, struck him on the head, and fled the scene immediately.”

Mustapha was rushed to Ileri Oluwa Hospital in Sepeteri but did not survive. The medical doctor on duty confirmed him dead on arrival.

Operatives from the Ago-Amodu Divisional Police Headquarters quickly moved to the scene and the hospital for preliminary investigative procedures. The suspect was later tracked down, arrested and has since confessed to the crime. He is currently cooperating with investigators.

The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a discreet and comprehensive investigation.

The command assured residents that “justice will be pursued diligently and in accordance with the law.”

Sepeteri, the largest town in Saki East Local Government Area of Oke-Ogun, is a predominantly Yoruba community where dreams are traditionally taken very seriously as possible spiritual messages or attacks. Experts note that in many rural parts of Yorubaland, seeing someone harm you in a dream is sometimes interpreted as real-life spiritual warfare, a belief that has sadly triggered violence in the past.

This latest case has once again thrown the spotlight on how deeply-held cultural interpretations of dreams, when mixed with possible mental health challenges or unchecked anger, can lead to irreversible tragedy in close-knit families.

The Oyo State Police Command urged the public to report suspicious activities and seek peaceful ways of resolving disputes, especially those rooted in dreams or superstitions, while promising that no stone will be left unturned to ensure justice for the deceased.