A civil rights organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has carpeted Ogun State Government for series of security breaches in the state with a verdict the state under Governor Ibikunle Amosun is fast becoming a den to cultists, hired and other criminals.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday signed by the Executive Chairman of CHRSJ, Comrade Adeniyi, A. Sulaiman the group also further lamented that the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ilyasu and his team have been condoning needless loss of lives to cultists, hired assassins and other criminals.
In the statement made available to newsmen, the group accused the state government and the state police command of shirking their responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of residents of the state.
Specifically, the group singled out border communities such as Ilase, Oke-Odan, Ihunbo, Attan, Iju, Owode, all in Ipokia Local Government as well as Owo in Yewa South Local Government as areas where law and order has broken down with cultists, hire killers and other set of criminals holding sway.
“We are raising this alarm in the interest of residents of these areas who seem to have been at the mercy of criminal elements who have continued to hold the residents hostage owing to their nefarious activities which have resulted in needless loss of lives and property.” Sulaiman stated.
According to Sulaiman on behalf of the organization, some traditional rulers in collaboration with some law enforcement agents, particularly the police have been colluding with criminals in these communities to wreck havoc on residents.
In the statement, Sulaiman named some traditional rulers such as the Onilase of Ilase town, Oba John Adewale Olaifa (who is popularly known THIRD LION), Olu of Owode town, Oba Mathew Akindele, Onihunbo of Ihunbo (Oba?) Joseph Olamide Adesiyan; as those who have providing protecting covers to the criminals operating in their various domains.
The group listed other traditional rulers and chiefs to include a Baale, simply known as Chief Kehinde of Okere village via Ilase town, one Chief Ope Fashola who is popularly known as Oluaye and another titled chief named Oloriodo of Ilase kingdom as some others kingpins behind the criminals.
CHRSJ listed some of the cultists and gang leaders to include, one Titus Babajide (popularly known as Oppressor), one Alhaji Fatai Isiaka (popularly known as Jabala Esan Ake), Sina TaIwo (popularly known as Presido), Iweku Aremu as well as one Dosu Amos Senayon who is said to be the elected chairman of Ipokia Local Government.
Taiwo is the secretary to the Onilase of Ilase who is also the Vice Chairman of Idiroko LCDA located at Ilase town.
“On the 16th of August, 2017, one police Inspector Wasiu Ayinla Lawal attached to the Federal SARS in collaboration with Mr. Ope Fashola who is a resident of Ilase town shot and killed a resident of Idi Iroko who was later identified as Elder Paul Danton Hodewu. The deceased is said to be an automobile engineer who lives at Agbede House besides the General Hospital in Idi Iroko town.” Sulaiman wrote, adding that the murder was reportedly authorized by the traditional ruler of Ilase town.
CHRSJ in the statement said the offence of Hodewu was that he bought a parcel of land from the traditional ruler who subsequently resold the said land to another customer, a development that infuriated Hodewu who sought to repossess his land.
“From our findings, Oba Olaifa instructed Ope Fashola and the police to ‘deal’ with Hodewu for having the temerity to demand for his land or to secure a refund of his money. He was severely beaten by Fashola and other cultists present. He died immediately at the palace of the traditional ruler when a gun shot from a police inspector named Wasiu Ayinla Lawal pierced through his body.” The statement reads.
He stated that another victim of the traditional ruler was a secondary school teacher attached to Mayigi Community High School in Ilase town, one Kayode Omitogun who was said to have taught physics and mathematics in the school. He was also beaten to the point of death by cultists acting on the instruction of the Onilase of Ilase.
“It was a dehumanizing experience for Omitogun who was ordered to roll in mud water puddle by the traditional ruler for ‘disrespecting’ the secretary to the traditional ruler and the vice chairman of Idi Iroko LCDA. He was beaten blue and black, ordered to bathe himself with mud water and afterwards ordered to leave Ilase town after he was eventually sacked from the school.” The activist said in the statement.
According to the group accused one Iweku Aremu, a youth leader in the palace of the Onihunbo of Ihunboland, (Oba?) Joseph Olamide Adesiyan was actively involved in the murder of a traditional ruler, Olowo of Owo in Yewa South Local Government, who was simply identified as Oba Fashinu.
The gruesome murder took place on the 26th of July 2017 along the busy Oke-Odan Road, Ilaro town in the said, Yewa South Local Government, adding that “The murder of Oba Fashinu was so gruesome that his corpse was badly burnt with gas flared device into ashes by his killers.”
He added that “Our findings revealed that the late traditional ruler alongside the Onilase was returning from a meeting of traditional rulers in the state when Aremu and his gang members accosted and killed him. What is even more gruesome is that his body was burnt beyond recognition. Up till now, the reason for the murder is still unknown but Onilase’s complicity is very visible.”
The group stated that Senayon, the Chairman of Ipokia Local Government and the Leader of the council’s legislative house, one Tunde allegedly looted properties belonging to the Ipokia campus of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
“These men who ordinarily should be a role model have turned out to be thieves and terror who have been stealing from their people. They have been stealing from institutions that the government has put in place for the progress and development of their communities. We are bringing this to public notice that Senayon is currently on administrative bail of the EFCC which is probing him on some fraudulent activities involving the installation of the Onihunbo of Ihunbo.” He said.
He added that Senayon and some others are being investigated by the EFCC through a petition filed by CHRSJ dated Monday 3rd April 2017, pending before the zonal office of the anti-graft commission in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He stated that one Chief Michael Akinola who is the Aro of Ihunbo was arrested for defrauding a businessman by operatives of the FSARS in Ayetoro, Ihunbo, adding that “He was later released on administrative bail to one of his younger brother who is believed to be a customs officer named Ayo Akinola (07031xxx477).
Sulaiman made reference to two petitions against Titus Babajide (known as Oppressor), Fatai Isiaka and 46 others with 21 soldiers attached to the 192 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Owode-Yewa, Ogun State to both Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the police commissioner.
He stated that the content of the petition dated Monday 27th of March, 2017 stated that the affected persons engaged in threat to the life of their victims, attempted murder, arson of an ancient palace of Onihunbo of Ihunbo.
“We are so sad that up till now since we filed the petition, the police have not carried out any form of investigations owing to the closeness of the suspects to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Illyasu.” He stated.
Apart from this, he added that series of petitions have been filed before the state police commissioner of police in Ogun State against Olu of Owode, Oba Mathew Akindele, Mr. Akeem who is the managing director of Idera Petrol filling Station for harbouring members of some cult groups in his house and business premises.
“He has been doing this in collaboration with an operative of the FSARS, named Wole and his officer in charge at FSARS in Magbon.” He said.
He listed those being harboured to include Mathew Emmanuel, Mutiu, Ajibawo Sheriff, Stargold, Strage, Paw Paw, Kunle Omo Tau Tau, Sheriff CNS, Saudi Omo Taposi, Mukaila, Bosun, Anganba, Yomi, Wale Walesh, Azeez Oya, Koko Iyan and Ayan.
He concluded that the group was fed up with the refusal of the state government and the police command to protect the residents of the areas mentioned, saying the group has given both till the 1st of October this year for the arrest and prosecution of the affected suspects in the interest of peace and justice.
“Failure on the part of both the police and the state government to do the needful will attract the full force of our members’ wrath. We have resolved to picket the police command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta. We have going to do this simultaneously with the picketing of the Ogun State Government secretariat for a period of two months after the expiration of the ultimatum.
“The (picketing) exercise is going to be staged in commemoration of the 8th year anniversary of the murder of a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) late politician, Mr. Dipo Dina who was assassinated on Monday 25th of January 2010 in Otta area of Ogun State.