Ex-lawmaker, Captain Ajao’s family house, others’ attacked as thugs wreak havoc in Aaje, Ogbomoso
Yinka ADETUNJI
Suspected thugs allegedly wreaked havoc in the wee hours of Wednesday (June 21) in Ogbomoso destroying properties worth millions of naira during a midnight attack in Aaje, Exchange, Ladanu and Ijeru areas.
The family house of Hon Jacob Adejumo Ajao, immediate past lawmaker who represented Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire federal constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Eleruko compound, at Aaje, was among the houses vandalized, with windows destroyed and glasses broken.
Also, about two water tanks, one belonging to a trader at Exchange area and the other a property of Aaje Primary Health Centre were said to have been removed and burnt by the hoodlums just as about six parked cars, two at Aaje, three at Ladanu and one at Ijeru had their windscreens smashed by the rampaging thugs. Many other houses were vandalized.
ogbomosoinsightonline.com findings revealed that the gang which is suspected to be behind the mayhem invaded the area at about 12am to commit the heinous crime, without provocation.
Residents of Aaje who however spoke under conditions of anonymity said “We were fast asleep when the area came under barrage of attacks making everybody to be seized by fear. We couldn’t come out in the dark.”
The man further disclosed that the attackers first came late evening Tuesday at about 8pm but were repelled by youths in the area.
“They first invaded the area – Aaje – at about 8pm on Tuesday, but we repelled them. We thought that was all, they now reinforced and returned for the attack at about 12am, bearing dangerous weapons like cutlasses, axes, knives etc. Their number was overwhelming and they had a field day destroying vehicles and houses, they even smashed blocks arranged in front of a house, about 100 units of blocks.
“They in addition dismounted two water tanks, one belonging to Aaje health centre and the other to a woman and burned them by piling disused tires on them. They besides smashed up about two cars in the area. They really unleashed terror putting everyone in fright.”
The residents said that they had been suspecting something ominous was imminent in the area because “we saw grim-faced young boys moving around at daylight perhaps surveying the area” a source said.
Explaining further the source informed, a security guard in one workshop at Aaje area was mercilessly tortured.
“The reason behind the invasion was to steal and destroy properties” a man who pledged anonymity hinted.
A victim at Ladanu Compound, Fadipe Timothy whose white Mercedes-Benz with the number plate “AA909EJG” was vandalized, revealed that the issue had been reported to security personnel at Owode police station, Ogbomoso.
“I went to Owode police station to report the incident and they came to take the photograph of my car that was destroyed”, Timothy revealed.
Other telltale signs of the attack were stones and broken bottles which littered the road through Aaje while burnt tyres were seen at various points along the road.
Less than a kilometre from Aaje is Ladanu area and here too, parked vehicles were damaged, and just beyond the palace of Onpetu of Ijeru another parked car tasted the fury of the invaders.
All those who were asked as to what instigated the attack said it was unclear; all the youths who spoke said none of them had any altercation with the invaders.
A young man in his twenties who identified himself simply as Kayode at Aaje disclosed the culprits might have had issue with collectors of old iron items (Jaribola workers) at Aaje area.
Another man who said he was a member of the Vigilante Group (VGN) but on security duty outside the area at the time of the attack hinted they suspected a notorious gang identified as “Wahala N Payan Boys” at Ijeru area for the invasion, noting the gang was in the habit of unleashing terror in communities in brazen manner especially following street carnivals in any part of the city. “They will just invade an area without provocation even if it is not in the area the carnival was held.”
The VGN man further alleged that during such attacks “the hoodlums loot shops, steal and perpetrate other crimes. However, they do boast of having the backing of politicians.”
One of the owners of the cars vandalized who however did not mention his name said he tried to stop them but that he was overpowered. “I was asleep when someone called me on phone that l should come and drive my car away, and I rushed out, when they saw me they retreated. But as I entered to start the car they began to hit it with various weapons damaging the windscreen and the car lights in the process.”
The man and others appealed to government to come to the aids of those who suffered losses and to ensure the perpetrators were brought to book, revealing, “this was not the first time they would cause mayhem in the area, they came in the past destroying properties likewise. Security agents should curb their excesses to checkmate their reign of terror.”
Meanwhile the residents informed policemen, Civil Defense and Amotekun operatives had visited the area on fact-finding mission just as they reported the matter at Owode Police Station.
This was confirmed by sources at the police station with the disclosure that investigations had commenced into the matter.
