On March 13, 2012, Pastor David Ogbolu, Founder
of Christ Bible Gospel Church, Ajibawo Village in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government
of Ogun State, was murdered by some land speculators.
His sin, according to information gathered by PUNCH
Metro, was that he was not ready to compromise on land matters.
But over eight months after the 50-year-old
pastor was murdered, it was learnt that the major suspects in the murder had
been walking freely in the community, boasting that they were untouchable.
Worried by the danger the development portends
for the family and the entire community, Ogbolu’s family has appealed to the
relevant authorities to come to their rescue.
Ogbolu’s son, David, on behalf of the family, has
therefore petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, to
intervene in the matter in order to bring the culprits to justice.
In the petition dated November 22, 2012, and
copied to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the family alleged that since
Ogbolu’s murder, a ranking police officer at the Police Headquarters, Abuja,
had been backing the major suspects.
The family alleged that when the incident
occurred, the nine suspects the police detained and arraigned before an Ota
Magistrate’s Court on April 16, were released on the advice of the state
Director of Public Prosecution on April 25.
The petition to IG Abubakar reads in part, “It is
with heavy heart that I write this letter, craving the indulgence of your good
office to seek justice over the dastardly killing of our father, Pastor David
Ogbolu, by some identified hoodlums at Oke-Odo, Ado-Odo/Ota LGA of Ogun State
on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.
“Our father was gruesomely murdered by some land
grabbers in the area who had over time labelled him a traitor for his stoic
stance for truth and justice.
“On behalf of my mother, Felicia Ogbolu, and my
four siblings, I request your immediate investigation into the matter as the
major suspects are publicly boasting that they are untouchable, threatening to
deal with us through a top police officer who is well known to be their backbone.
“The murder of our father, who was 50 years old,
was not a case of mistaken identity but calculated and well orchestrated
because he had always stood on the side of truth and justice in the community,
particularly in matters of land disputes. We believe that was why he was
killed.
“On the day he was murdered, hired hoodlums
wielding dangerous weapons stormed Oke-Odo village and unleashed terror on the
inhabitants. They came fiercely in five trucks, shooting sporadically with
villagers having no option but to scamper to safety.
“Our father was killed few hours after the
invasion while on his way to keep an appointment with a senior pastor in a
neighbouring village. The hoodlums laid siege to him in the bush.
“Some of those who live around the area where my
father was killed confided in us and some village leaders that they overheard
him shouting one familiar name. There is no such name among land speculators in
the area. The man was duly arrested after the case was reported at the Ota Area
Command.
“The man in question was arrested with other
major suspects and the case was transferred to state Criminal Investigation
Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, where to our dismay and shock, they were
immediately released on the order of the ranking police officer. The police
officer has since been protecting the murder suspects.”
The family urged the IG to look deeply into their
petition, saying it would help the police to fish out those behind the murder.
It said until the major suspects were brought to
justice, the blood of Ogbolu would continue to cry for justice.
The family wondered the connection between the
hoodlums and the police officer that he was not allowing the police to
investigate their father’s killing.
Compass
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