We need help – Magbon chief

Uneasy calm pervades Magbon community in Badagry local government area of Lagos State over alleged unresolved murder cases.

*Bereaved: The wife and children of Ajose, the slain OPC leader

The murder cases reached  the  peak at 8:30pm penultimate  Friday at the Okada  park in the community when  30- year-old Joel Ajose, described  as an Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader,  and 35-five-year old Segun Durojaiye were allegedly killed  in cold blood by  five men who laid siege to the community.

Before the death of  Ajose and Durojaiye, residents  said  a football fan was murdered in  a viewing centre during  a UEFA  Champions League match.

According to the residents, efforts to resolve the  murder cases hit a brick wall at the Area K Police Command and Divisional Police Station, Marogbo which allegedly took no positive action notwithstanding that reports were lodged.

According to the Vice Chairman of Surulere CDA, Olushola Olabintan, who is also the Chairman of the Okada riders in Magbon, one Kenneth and an  alleged accomplice with a locally made gun  were arrested in connection with the Okada park murders  but  were later released by the police.

Meanwhile, youths in the neighbourhood  issued an ultimatum to the police to apprehend the criminals  terrorising the area.

The youths also threatened showdown if  government failed  to replace the Area Commander at Area K Police Command and the Divisional Police Officer at Morogbo Police Station.

It was alleged  that on some occasions when suspects were  arrested in the community and handed over to the police, the suspects  not only found their  way back to the community but also organised the murder of whoever was in the forefront of their arrest.

*Chief Agbaje

Giving  on insight  into what might have led to  the  murder of Ajose,  the Vice-Chairman of the CDA,  Olabintan, said on April 1, 2014, one Kenneth and another young man disrupted business activities at the community’s shopping complex by brandishing a gun publicly before Ajose and himself apprehended him and both of them handed him and his accomplice  over to the police.

He said after they  and the suspects were made to write  statements, the case was turned against him (Sola) and the police detained him alongside the suspects.

He said, “After handing the suspects (Kenneth) and his accomplace over to the police, I was invited to write my statement. But I was surprised that the police suddenly turned the case against me, saying I was the one who sent someone to bring the gun from my house.

I was detained for five days within the period I was supposed to celebrate my child’s naming ceremony. Even while we were at the station, the suspect boasted before the Area Commander that he was going to deal with Ajose for bringing him to the station.

“On May 2nd,  Ajose was relaxing at the Okada park  with friends. They came from the back, shot him and also used a matchete on him. Another person who just came out to eat was also hit by  stray bullet because they kept firing. The only person we are suspecting of this murder  is Kenneth.

That is the problem we are facing in this community. Anytime someone is arrested and handed over to the police, they will turn the case against the complainant and before you know it the suspect will be freed  and  he comes back to kill the person who facilitated his arrest.”

The baale of the community, Chief Zachaeus Kolawole Agbaje,  criticized the Area Commander and the DPO, saying the community is better off without them.
He said, “We are appealing to the Federal Government to come to our assistance regarding killings here. I don’t know the job of the police in this community.

Instead of investigating cases reported to them, they will turn a complainant to the accused.

“When they were called that  Ajose was shot with another person, instead of taking the other victim to the hospital since he was still breathing, they took him to the police station where he died. We have been doing our best for peace to reign in this community but the police have been making this impossible.

“The Area Commander has even gone as far as calling me a fake baale. I am  surprised. Any  effort I make to bring peace into the community, he frustrates it. We don’t know what he wants to turn the community, even the whole of Badagry into.”