The Araba Awo of Ajaawa land, Chief Adeoye Ifaleye, attacked in his residence in the wee hours of yesterday, is yet to be found, ogbomosoinsightonline.com can authoritatively affirm.
This is just as findings revealed that one of the attackers was pronounced dead at the same hospital (names withheld) in Ogbomoso, Araba Awo was being taken for emergency treatment and from where he was abducted along with some members of his family and driver.
“Whether he is alive or dead we don’t know just as his wife, two kids and the driver of the vehicle conveying him for emergency treatment after the vicious attack on him, are yet to be found,” a worried resident of Ajaawa, who begged for anonymity, said.
According to findings, the vehicle conveying him to the hospital was snatched at the entrance of the said medical facility by some of his suspected assailants who had arrived earlier with one of them who sustained serious injuries too, who later died.
The attacker said to have died reportedly wore heavy charms and had a “stud” (tiny ear ring) affixed to one of his ears.
It was after he had been pronounced dead and deposited in the morgue that the suspected assailants learnt that the Araba Awo, popular called Babanifa was also in the hospital; they allegedly intercepted and abducted him along with the others.
So, as at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the five abductees are unknown. This is aside the two men taken away by the assailants during the midnight invasion, Oyeniran, alias Patanla and Dipo a.k.a. Owo Adua. They have not been found too.
Meanwhile, some leaders of the community including the Alajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji and the chairman of Ogo-Oluwa local government, Mr. Seun Ojo, yesterday addressed newsmen on the matter in Ibadan in which an indigene of the town, Prince Ade Master was alleged of being the mastermind with the connivance of some policemen just as a Save Our Soul (SOS) message was sent to the Inspector General of Police to rescue the area from incessant (armed) attacks.
The Ajaawa incidents have been a complex matter. Some weeks earlier, a similar assault was launched on Babanifa with intent on kidnapping him but this was foiled by youths of the town.
However, the police authorities (in Ogbomoso) claimed that the attackers were policemen from Abuja even though residents faulted the “crude” way the operation was carried out.
People wondered why policemen would come to effect the arrest of someone and assault the person with guns despite not telling him his crime or that the person resisted arrest.
Yesterday’s invasion which also was launched in suspicious manner was also attributed to policemen. This raised much concern in the community.
So, addressing journalists at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Secretariat, Ibadan yesterday, the Ajaawa council boss revealed that he was bombarded by calls from residents at about 1:00 am on Tuesday, intimating him about the terrifying gunshots from the invaders.
Adding that two persons died from gunshots with over ten persons sustaining various degrees of injuries, he pointed accusing fingers at Ade master.
“Early this morning, around 1am precisely, I was woken up by frantic calls from many people in Ajaawa, following sporadic gunshots that left the town terrified from midnight of Monday, July 28.
“Following quick checks by my office and the office of the Alajaawa, it was confirmed that the sporadic gunshots and direct shootings into some houses were carried out by some men of the Nigerian Police, who had invaded Ajaawa for no clear reasons.
“We were told that the team came from Abuja, supposedly from the office of the Inspector General of Police.
“It was confirmed that the team made bookings at the office of the Area Commander in Owode, Ogbomoso and at the office of the Divisional Police Officer, in Ajaawa, so we had no doubt that they were men of the Nigerian Police.
“We were, however, more than baffled that men of the Nigerian Police would invade a community, unleash sporadic gunshots and cause tension and panic, even loss of lives.
“As we speak, at least two persons were confirmed dead from the sporadic gunshots fired by the police team members while at least 10 persons have been confirmed to sustain various degrees of injuries.
“The final number of the injured was actually being put together as we speak since I had to hurriedly leave the council to make this report here in Ibadan.
“I am, therefore, using this medium to send a Save Our Soul (SOS) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), whose office is being dragged to an act we consider lawless and one which cannot be defended by any aspect of our law books.
“Our people are at a loss as to why law enforcement officers would invade a community in such a commando-like manner and unleash mayhem leading to a situation where members of the community had to take refuge in the forest even in the dead of the night.
“As we speak, the local government headquarters in Ajaawa is deserted, just as schools and many of our people have relocated to nearby towns.
“A number of our people are of the view that the raid may not be unconnected with the decision of some youths to sack a shrine which belonged to one “Ade Master,” something that took place when an SPU Policeman attached to him killed a member of the community.
“It will interest you to note that the said Ade Master is being linked to kidnapping and disappearance of innocent persons in the area in recent times.
“Could it be that some persons are not happy that our youths sacked the shrine and stopped the possible use of the area to perpetrate nefarious activities?
“Could it be that some forces are trying to instigate the Police against innocent people of Ajaawa community and disrupt the peace of the area for their selfish and nefarious reasons?
“Why would the police invade a community and unleash violence in the dead of the night? This and many questions have been agitating our minds since the violence broke in the midnight yesterday.
“Let me use this medium to equally call on the IGP, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo state and all law enforcement officers to please join hands to ensure peace in our local government and our state.
“We have all seen and are proud of the service delivery efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde aimed at developing the state.”
Similarly, Oba Oyetunji called on Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde and all security agencies to come to the aid of the community, also alleging Ade Master of being behind the crisis with “probably the backing of some law enforcement agents. This is unfortunate,” the Oba said.
