BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
The Oyo State Police Command has described as criminal, the recent attacks on its men by some angry youths in Ajaawa community, Ogo-Oluwo Local Government Area of the state, warning that whoever is caught trying such would, forthwith, be ruthlessly dealt with.
A team of heavily armed policemen, said to have been invited to the community by a herbalist called Ade Master to effect some arrests over the purported destruction of his property, were reportedly resisted by some enraged youths of the community, thereby leading to the killings of, at least, two people with several others injured.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ngozi Onadeko, however, expressed her misgivings against the reported attacks on the security men in the community, saying nobody found to be scuttling the process of arrest of criminal elements would be spared under any guise.
The CP said that the men were on a ‘lawful investigation’ to the town when attacked by the youths.
A statement titled, ‘Re-attack on Police operatives by Ajaawa youths,’ made available to journalists by the Police Public Relations Officer in the Command, Adewale Osifeso, read, “The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Ngozi Onadeko, has observed with grave dismay, the needless aggression and hostility towards officers and men of the Force and Command by hoodlums while performing their lawful duties, especially regarding arrest of criminal offenders in some areas in the state.
“On Tuesday, 28th June 2021, operatives of the Special Weapon and Tactics unit, attached to FCIID, while on lawful investigation to Ajaawa, Ogo-Oluwo Local Government Area of Oyo State, were attacked by a group of disgruntled youths in a bid to help evade arrest.
“On Thursday, 27th May, 2021 a team of IRT/FIB on Investigation were attacked by disgruntled youths and hoodlums who mobilised themselves to unleash mayhem on the officers and as well dispossess them of valuables.”
The statement urged parents, guardians and influential members of the public to warn their children and wards against being used by criminal elements to scuttle lawful procedures and peace in the state.
It reiterated the Command’s assurances to secure the state, stressing, “The Police would not fold its arms while lives and properties are destroyed. Heavy sanctions would be meted out to any person or group(s) of persons who breaches public peace in the state. Crime fighting effort is intensified in birthing a crime-free Oyo State.”
Recall that the Chairman of Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of the state, Seun Ojo, and the Alajaawa of Ajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye, had alleged that two persons were killed, with no fewer than 10 others injured, in Ajaawa on the fateful day, when some policemen invaded the community.
According to them, a traditional medicine practitioner, based in the town, identified as Ade Master, connived with criminal elements to attack some residents of the town with policemen.
The duo said, “We were more than baffled that men of the Nigeria Police would invade a community, unleash gunshots and cause tension and panic, even loss of lives.
“As we speak, at least two persons were confirmed dead from the sporadic gunshots fired by the police team while, at least, 10 persons had been confirmed to have sustained various degrees of injuries.”
“The number of the injured is actually being put together as we speak since I had to hurriedly leave the council to make this report here in Ibadan,” the chairman added.
The Alajaawa accused Ade Master of instigating terror in the area, saying that it was unfortunate that some law enforcement agents were backing him.
It was alleged that Ade Master’s invitation to the police was as a result of the destruction of his properties by some elements in the town, last month, following the chieftaincy dispute between the Oba in the town and his alleged rivals to the throne.
Efforts to speak with Ade Master as of the time of filing this report were unsuccessful, as he did not answer repeated calls put across to his telephone line.
However, he debunked the allegations levelled against him by the council chairman and the Alajaawa in a voice message sent to journalists in Ibadan.
He said in the message, “I am a traditional medicine practitioner; I am not a kidnapper and no child had ever been reported missing since I started my business. Anybody who has an evidence of kidnap or ritual killing against me should come out with proofs.
“I make money from farming. They went to my place and ransacked everywhere; did they see corpses or human parts there? They are just doing everything to tarnish my image.”
“They said Oba Adeyeye and the council chairman said I was the one sponsoring Lasisi Oyebunmi against Oba Adeyeye. We were all invited by the Commissioner of Police and nothing incriminating was found at my place,” he noted.
