By ALBERT AKPOR
…as villagers accuse police of  partiality, send S.O.S to IGP
THE gale of mayhem currently sweeping through Igbokuta, a sleeping village in Ikorodu, Lagos and the reckless destruction of lives and property allegedly by land grabbers has become a great source of worry to concerned residents of the area.

Whereas it is no longer news that one of the ring leaders popularly called ‘Sir K’ was declared wanted by the police through an official gazette number CB 2685/FHQ/ABJ/09/05/11, for allegedly being the arrow head of the notoriety and several murders in the said village; what may be news and interesting perhaps,  is the twist in police investigation into the alleged criminality and killings by the said ‘Sir K’ who instead of being hunted and prosecuted in strict adherence to enabling laws of the land, is allegedly seen around  town  with officers of the same agency that declared him wanted.

Just last Tuesday, February 7, 2012 the said ‘Sir K’, his men and a detachment of anti-crime policemen from Area ‘N’ Command headquarters under an Assistant Commissioner of Police, allegedly invaded the village,  shooting rapidly and chasing everyone on sight into the bush.

Ag IGP, M D Abubakar

At the end of the unprovoked invasion, two  persons one of them identified as Nureni Olaewe and another whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, were reportedly hacked to death.  An eight- month old pregnant woman identified as Mrs Caroline Akinrele, her brother-in-law , Joseph Akinrele, were mercilessly beaten to a pulp by the rampaging land grabbers’ men.  Others including one David Ogede were severely machetted.

Patients at the Ikorodu  General Hospital where doctors are battling to save their lives were not spared.   It was hinted that while the sporadic shooting and chasing of hapless indegenes of the village  into the bush continued, one Nureni Olaewe, a meat seller was hit in the cross fire as he tried crawling into the bush.  His lifeless body was later discovered in a shallow pit.  Another victim of the invasion was also found dead in an uncompleted building with his body riddled with bullets.

Meanwhile, bodies of victims of the unprovoked attack have been deposited at the same hospital for autopsy.  As at the time of this report, Igbokuta village has been reduced to a  shadow of itself as men, women, children and even animals have fled for dear life.

Some of them who spoke from their hidings on condition of anonymity accused the police  attached to Area ‘N’ of complicity.  “Are we in a lawless country?  Why is it that somebody that the police declared wanted for several murders is seen around with the same policemen, terrorizing and even killing innocent persons.

This problem has been on for years now and our efforts to get justice has been persistently thwarted by a handful of police officers under the payroll of our assailants, especially ‘Sir K.’  This is why we have sent a Save-Our -Soul plea to the new IGP, MD Abubakar to ensure that justice is done so that we can go back peacefully to our homes,” they chorused.

When contacted for comment, the Lagos state Command Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, SP Joseph Jaiyeoba said the case was under investigation stating that he was not aware that  the said Sir Kwas declared wanted.

He, however, added that  the command would  investigate  the totality of all allegations leveled against the suspect.    “I will contact the DPO and get details of the invasion to ascertain if the said  Sir K was  declared wanted by the same police who gave him policemen to attack the village,” he said.