There
was pandemonium yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as a mob
attempted to set ablaze a two-storey building which was suspected to be
a ritual killers’ den.
The house, located at No. 30 CDA Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta and owned by a retired deputy superintendent of police, was invaded by hundreds of angry youths who were promptly dispersed by armed policemen. At the end of the confusion, which turned out to have been ignited by a false alarm, the police arrested 17 people.
It was learnt that rumour about a suspected ritual killers’ house with human parts had spread rapidly in Ijaiye area of Abeokuta, prompting policemen, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSCO) to mobilise to the area. Witnesses said nothing incriminating was found after a thorough search of the house, though the owner and other occupants were reportedly not around.
But it was gathered that some youths, who were still not satisfied, vandalised the house and attempted to set it on fire. In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the incident was uncalled for and criminal in nature, warning the public to desist from such. Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of police, disclosed that 17 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident and would be charged to court.
The PPRO also deplored the “jungle justice” meted out to two “mad men” in Enugada and Lafenwa areas of Abeokuta yesterday before they were rescued by policemen. He said: “This is pure jungle justice and it is unacceptable as it will not help the police in their investigation; and a gross violation of people’s fundamental human rights.
“Even if such suspects are noticed or apprehended, members of the public are expected to hand them over to the police for thorough investigation.
“The attention of the Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to the way some members of the public attack certain individuals with frivolous allegations of kidnap and child stealing/ritual killings in Abeokuta and major cities in Ogun State.
“The command is not comfortable with these cases of attack on persons of unsound minds and those with (exotic) cars who are always wrongly alleged of child stealing or ritual killing which make some hoodlums wound and eventually extort them and damage their vehicles.
“For instance, the attempted attack on a house allegedly used as ritual killers’ den at No 30 CDA Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta today (Monday) 21st April at about 1000hrs was uncalled for and criminal in nature.”
Adejobi said the prompt intervention of the policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Oke Itoku Division saved the house of an innocent individual from being burnt by some hoodlums.
He said: “After the intervention of some community leaders including the Balogun of Ijaiye and even the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, who came to assess the situation on the directive of the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and thorough search of the said house by the police, high chiefs of the area and representatives of the youth, some miscreants still attacked the police with a view to gain entrance into the said house to loot the property therein and set the house ablaze.”
NEW TELEGAPH
The house, located at No. 30 CDA Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta and owned by a retired deputy superintendent of police, was invaded by hundreds of angry youths who were promptly dispersed by armed policemen. At the end of the confusion, which turned out to have been ignited by a false alarm, the police arrested 17 people.
It was learnt that rumour about a suspected ritual killers’ house with human parts had spread rapidly in Ijaiye area of Abeokuta, prompting policemen, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSCO) to mobilise to the area. Witnesses said nothing incriminating was found after a thorough search of the house, though the owner and other occupants were reportedly not around.
But it was gathered that some youths, who were still not satisfied, vandalised the house and attempted to set it on fire. In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the incident was uncalled for and criminal in nature, warning the public to desist from such. Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of police, disclosed that 17 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident and would be charged to court.
The PPRO also deplored the “jungle justice” meted out to two “mad men” in Enugada and Lafenwa areas of Abeokuta yesterday before they were rescued by policemen. He said: “This is pure jungle justice and it is unacceptable as it will not help the police in their investigation; and a gross violation of people’s fundamental human rights.
“Even if such suspects are noticed or apprehended, members of the public are expected to hand them over to the police for thorough investigation.
“The attention of the Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to the way some members of the public attack certain individuals with frivolous allegations of kidnap and child stealing/ritual killings in Abeokuta and major cities in Ogun State.
“The command is not comfortable with these cases of attack on persons of unsound minds and those with (exotic) cars who are always wrongly alleged of child stealing or ritual killing which make some hoodlums wound and eventually extort them and damage their vehicles.
“For instance, the attempted attack on a house allegedly used as ritual killers’ den at No 30 CDA Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta today (Monday) 21st April at about 1000hrs was uncalled for and criminal in nature.”
Adejobi said the prompt intervention of the policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Oke Itoku Division saved the house of an innocent individual from being burnt by some hoodlums.
He said: “After the intervention of some community leaders including the Balogun of Ijaiye and even the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, who came to assess the situation on the directive of the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and thorough search of the said house by the police, high chiefs of the area and representatives of the youth, some miscreants still attacked the police with a view to gain entrance into the said house to loot the property therein and set the house ablaze.”
NEW TELEGAPH
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