The Lagos State Police Command, in synergy
with the Lagos State Neighbourhood Security and Safety Corps (LSNSC), has uncovered
a shrine under the Opebi link bridge, Ikeja, allegedly being used by members of
the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) to detain and torture people.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal
Imohimi, who led a team of policemen to the shrine on tuesday, has ordered its
immediate demolition.
Edgal disclosed that the operators of the
shrine usually carried out trial, torture and detained people they ‘arrested.’
The shrine was actually discovered by the Neighborhood
Security Safety Corps and then reported to the police command for action.
Imohimi said: “Going by the items found in
the shrine, some of their victims were tortured to force them to own up to a
particular crime they are being tried for. Three persons were arrested for
their alleged involvement in the activities around the shrine, while
three Point Of Sells (POS) machines used to extort money from their
victims were recovered.”
Aside the three POS machines, other items
found at the shrine include mobile telephone sets and ATM cards belonging to
some victims.
Imohimi, while addressing journalists at the
scene, said that some officials of the LSNSC had informed the Command of the suspicious
movement of people in and out of the shrine.
He explained that it was based on the
strength of the information, that he directed the Divisional Police Officer
(DPO) in charge of Ikeja Police Station to investigate the matter and
report back to him.
He said: "Based on the directive, a team
of undercover policemen led by the DPO mounted surveillance around the area. On Monday,
officials of LSNSC also mounted surveillance. They saw a man being dragged into
the shrine. They were attracted to the place by the screaming of the man. They
quickly informed the DPO who moves his men to the scene where three persons
were arrested and the victim rescued. In as much as we believe in community
policing and community partnership, I want to sound a note of warning to any
group of persons who may want to take laws into their hands, that the command
will deal decisively with members of such groups.”
Imohimi said that it was true that OPC
members had been helpful to the command in the past, stressing that the command
sees them as partners.
He added: “ But as you can see, some group of
persons under the guise of OPC, have
erected an office under the Opebi link bridge where they take people to try
them by ordeal. They also have a shrine there where they take victims to. I
believe that they always force their victim's to take oath. We will not
tolerate this in any part of the state."
He further disclosed that three persons have
been arrested in connection with the shrine, while a victim was rescued.
“We’re investigating all those behind this
barbaric act and will soon round them up. When they are arrested, they will be
made to face the full wrath of the law," vowed the CP.
This was even as Imohimi added that a crack
team of detectives were already quizzing the three suspects arrested at the
shrine.
He queried: “As a law abiding citizens, you
are only allowed to arrest, after which the suspect is handed over to the
police who have the constitutional responsibility to investigate and charge
suspects to court. What are POS machines doing there? Investigation has also revealed
that some robbers go about with POS machine. They make their victims to
transfer money to their account at gun point. We are going to be thorough in
our investigation. We won’t allow any miscreant to run amok in Lagos.”
Some of the mechanics operating under
the bridge, told journalists that the operators of the shrine, used to
arrest and torture their victims openly. They also added that the operators used
to open case files for those ‘arrested.’
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