Mr. Rotimi Akinde, the father of a 20-year-old boy, Bidemi Akinde, has accused one ASP Afolabi, aka Jagaban, attached to the Sango-Ota Police Area Command, Ogun State, of leading some hoodlums, who are notorious for unlawful possession of parcels of land, to kill his son.
Bidemi, an apprentice barber, was reportedly shot dead in the Oke-Ore, Atan-Ota area of the state by one Segun said to be one of the hoodlums loyal to one Alhaji Owoeye.
Bidemi’s father said his son’s freedom
was around the corner when he was killed by the bandits allegedly accompanied by Afolabi-led team, who invaded the community around 10pm on Wednesday, August 19.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Owoeye, his thugs and the policemen fled the area after Bidemi, who was coming from a canteen, was felled by the bullets from the gun of one of the hoodlums.
Our correspondent gathered that the thugs had stormed the community on the fateful day, shooting indiscriminately while they pasted notice to quit on houses in the neighbourhood.
It was learnt that Owoeye was arrested later that day by some soldiers, who handed him over to the police.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the deceased’s father, Rotimi, said he wanted ASP Afolabi and others allegedly involved in the killing of his son to be brought to book.
He said, “It was Owoeye who hired the policemen, led by Supol Afolabi, from the Area Command to follow him and other land grabbers to our community. He is their chairman in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.
“Afolabi had called a landlady because of the notice pasted on her house. It was shortly after then that people rushed to tell me that Bidemi had been shot dead. How can a police officer be leading thugs to victimise residents? Owoeye is not an indigene of our community.
“I learnt that he had been arraigned in court. I urge the state judiciary not to compromise. The officer and other land grabbers at large should also be brought to book.
Bidemi’s mother, Sarah, also urged police authorities and the government to ensure that justice was done in the case. She said, “Bidemi’s death has left a huge gap in my heart. He was obedient, gentle and respectful. He finished his secondary school education two years ago and had been disturbing me that he wanted to further his studies. I pleaded with him to complete his vocation first because we didn’t have the means yet.
“His boss certified him some months ago and we were already planning for his freedom when these heartless people killed him.”
Bidemi’s boss, Olugbenga Omoleye, described him as hardworking and intelligent. He said, “I am still battling with the fact that he is gone. I had left the shop under his care that morning and went to Owode with a friend. Soon after I got there, I learnt Owoeye and his boys had started their trouble again and I called him on the telephone to shut the shop and go home. A few minutes later, I was called that he was dead.”
A landlord in the area, who did not want his name in print, said the suspect and his cohorts had used policemen to oppress them for years. He said, “I was taking my son to an Islamic class that day when I saw them and policemen trooping into the community. We had to hide somewhere. It was Segun who shot that boy.
Another resident, who identified himself only as Olayinka, said Owoeye was terrorising the owner of a building under construction when he was arrested. “At a site in Atan, where he was arrested, he was asking the owner to pay N500,000 to permit the foundation of the building. The man was begging him to collect N250,000, but he refused. It was in the process that soldiers stormed there and arrested him,” he said.
The Ogun State police spokesperson, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, denied that the police assisted the hoodlums to perpetrate the attack. He said the police had escorted some bailiffs to the community to execute a court order. He said, “A man got a court order on some landed property. The police went with the bailiff to the community to serve; the court order. The policemen and the bailiffs had left the place before the hoodlums came. It is not true that policemen led the hoodlums there.
The ASP was there officially to do what the law says he should do.”


Source : PUNCHmetro

hmmmm

Too many rogues in Nigeria Police force. An officer who's primary assignment is to be maintaining peace and order, securing lives and property suddenly turned to land grabber. We need urgent reform in the Nigeria Police Force. Continue to RIP Bidemi and I pray to God to comfort your family.

Investigations should be carried out.
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