By Evelyn Usman

It is no longer news that Ita Aro community in the heart of Ikorodu town, Lagos, has been sitting on a keg of gun powder, just like a time bomb, waiting to explode. This is as a result of a protracted land dispute at Maya Ajegunle area of the community. The dispute centers on the tussle over leadership in the community and the controversy surrounding the large sale of land by factions of the disputing party.

Already, pending notices and conveyances have been pasted all over the community, where both old and new tenants were ordered to stop work on the sites until the two parties (Jagun and Wasiu Elemure families)decided otherwise.

Jamiu, a victim of mistaken identity?

However, when the time bomb eventually exploded last Tuesday, it left on its trail, the death of a 36-year-old man identified as Jamiu Akanbi, a tailor and father of two. He was a member of Onasa family, a party to the ruling stool in the community. He was reportedly hacked to death after a false alarm was raised that some masons had started construction work at the disputed site. He rushed to the site to stop the masons from carrying out the work when he met his untimely death.

Narrating how Jamiu succumbed to the cold hands of death, a member of his family who simply identified himself as Oduyebo Eniola and Commander, Vigilance group in Ikorodu North Local Government Area, recalled that he was on his way to Ikorodu when, all of a sudden, his phone rang and he was informed that some masons and bricklayers were working on the disputed site.

Said he, “ It was Kazeem that called me. He said he was working in his farm when he sighted some persons who flouted the standing decision . The site belongs to one Musediku Yisaludeen. I immediately contacted the traditional head of the community, Chief Gboyega Aleshinloye, to find out if he was aware of the report. He then directed me to get some people to arrest the intruders. That was when I called Jamiu and Kazeem who said they were already in Ikorodu”

Perhaps, if Jamiu had a premonition that the journey back to his community was going to be his last, he would have acted otherwise to avert the tragedy that awaited him. But he quickly mounted on a motorcycle with his friend Kunle heading for a journey of no return.

Continuing, Eniola said, “ They arrived in a commercial motorcycle (okada) and I also called my deputy , Kunle Abatan who drove our patrol vehicle to join us around 11am.

“When we got to the site, we saw the people still working. But as we made to arrest them, they took to their heels and escaped through the fence. I then rushed after them, running into the building in the process. Just then, the owner of the building came out and started shouting and calling me thief. He immediately closed the door behind me and brought out a cutlass, and I started struggling with him. His wife also came out and joined in the scuffle. At that moment, my deputy Kunle, forced himself in to find out what was happening. At this stage, we were shocked to notice that some members of the community had gathered, wanting to lynch us.

“Jamiu who all the while was outside, later rushed into the building only to receive matchet cuts on his two hands from the owner of the half plot of land. We were helpless because they outnumbered us. There was also a man who claimed to be a policeman among the crowd. We had expected he would save the day but he did not, for he rushed to his apartment, brought out a knife and a handcuff, threatening to stab me to death. As he attempted to hand cuff me, I dodged him. But he was able to hand cuff my deputy, Kunle ,while I managed to escape from the scene”

It was learnt that as his colleagues were struggling to escape from the scene, Jamiu was not so lucky as he was o the ground, bleeding profusely from the matchet cuts until the community leader who got wind of the disturbing development, reportedly sent people to save the situation.

Battle for life

Crime Alert gathered that Jamiu was later rushed to two different private hospitals where unfortunately he was rejected. At the third hospital, the management reportedly demanded for the sum of N100,000 before commencing treatment on him. Unfortunately, nobody could provide the amount needed. Frustrated, weak and unable to talk, Jamiu reportedly made a passionate plea with his eyes for help. Time then was 2pm. Unable to convince nurses at the hospital to commence treatment that the needed money would be paid in due course, his relations rushed him again to Ikorodu General Hospital, where he met another brick wall, as he was rejected owing to the on-going doctors strike. At this point, Jamiu, reportedly broke down in tears, lamenting his inability to get medical attention at the point of death. As a last succor, sympathizers offered him two tins of milk and a can of malt apparently to give him strength that would enable him hold on to life while efforts were made to rush him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LUTH). Unfortunately, another hurdle was the vehicle that will convey him to the hospital. All the motorists contacted refused to render help for fear of being implicated by the Police. When the confused sympathizers were still contemplating on the next step to take, with some of them assuring Jamiu that all would be well, he unfortunately, breathed his last. Time was 4pm.

Three persons, including a prime suspect, the policeman said to have handcuffed one o f the victims and head of the Community Development Association (names withheld), have reportedly been arrested by policemen attached to Shagamu Road Divisional Police Station, Ikorodu over Jamiu’s death. Police sources said they are making useful statements.