Members of Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) recruited by one Rotimi Orimisan, a land prospector last Saturday, unleashed terror on the residents of Alabeko Estate in Ajah, stabbing three and destroying some houses and properties.
The unprovoked attack on the residence happened about 12:30pm,yesterday after the landowners (Omonile) held a meeting with residents over the illegal encroachment into their properties by Rotimi Orimisan. During the attack, one Rotimi Ojo, former General Secretary of the estate was stabbed on his right hand with a bottle and also hit with a shovel on his head. He was immediately rushed to Doren Specialist Hospital, Ajiwe in Ajah where he was operated upon; he is still on admission as you read this. The surgeon at the hospital (name withheld) says it was necessary an operation was carried out on him to correct the tendon and ligaments that were damaged. The attack on the residents was supervised by about eight police officers from MOPOL 23, Obalende, who complemented the miscreants’ attacks by dosing the residents with spray tear gas while the attack lasted. Some of the policemen who were mostly wearing police T-shirts had no name tag on their uniform. Besides, some of the police used horse whips to brutalize the residents who were mostly men and women, including some Omoniles in their old age. An eye witness who spoke to Daily Times in confidence said the marauding thugs, not done with the attacks on the residents, descended on an eight-room bungalow belonging to Alfa Isiaka Kelani, destroying the window glasses. The wife of the victim was not spared as she was treated to several slaps by the thugs despite her visual disadvantage. Another resident, one Olaseni Obafemi was not lucky as he was hit with a shovel on his head and hand while others sustained various degrees of injuries. The residents were chased into the bush under the watch of the police men while some resisted threats to kill them. The Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) Omolabi Oviebo whom, Daily Times learnt was visibly angry at the shameful act of his men, said police have no business taken side with a complainant but to make peace between warring factions. Our correspondent gathered that since Rotimi Orimisan has been threatening to grab a portion of land belonging to the estate and using the OPC and mobile policemen from MOPOL 23 stationed there in a make shift plank, the DPO was said to have personally visited the portion of land and told the police not to threaten residents again, but each time the DPO leaves, they violate his instructions, shooting sporadically into the air every time. Narrating their ordeals to our reporter, the Chairman of Alabeko Estate Residents Association (AERA), Mr Uba Offorbuike said, “We have not known peace in this estate since Rotimi Orimisan resorted to bruteforce to grab a large chunk of land from our estate. We met with the Omoniles from whom we bought our land; they told us that they didn’t sell any land to Rotimi Orimisan (the prospector). After the meeting with the land owner, we were within the estate when the OPC thugs attacked us with cutlasses, broken bottles and other offensive weapons. “I was shocked when the Police who are supposed to play neutral role joined them to attack us, spraying tear gas on us. In the process, one of us, Mr Rotimi Ojo was stabbed with a bottle on his right hand. As we speak, we have spent over N400, 000 for medical bills because of the emergency operation he was made to have due to the seriousness of his wounds. As law abiding citizens of this country, we are disappointed in the Nigerian Police because they have failed to defend the defenseless and armless people,” Uba added. The Tango over Positions Intensifies Another resident, who would not give his name told our correspondent that since Rotimi Orimisan brought OPC into the area, they have not known peace. “They have constantly harassed residents despite a petition sent to the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti and the AIG Zone 2, AIG Joseph Mbu for protection against the vagaries and insipid attacks from the OPC and mobile policemen from MOPOL 23.” At the moment, it is alleged that the thugs have penciled down about three landlords for assassination. One of them, Alfa Isiaka Kelani lamented that since the past one week, he has not slept in his house for fear of being killed. Others include one Abiodun Abbe and Wale Adebayo. It was gathered that despite several invitations by the landowners to Orimisan for a peace talk and a court summon from the Epe High Court as some of the residents dragged him to court, he refused to honour the invitations. When contacted on phone, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu didn’t pick his phone and a text message sent to him was also not responded to as at press time
Source: dailytimes ng.
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