Four people were confirmed dead on Friday as suspected gunmen attacked Ido Ayegunle, a settlement near Esa Oke town in Osun State.

The assailants also razed buildings in the community and destroyed residents’ properties during the attack.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, but the Obanla of Ido Ayegunle, Ibironke Adebusuyi, alleged in an interview with The PUNCH that the assailants came from Esa Oke.

The people of Esa Oke and Ido Ayegunle have been at loggerheads since January, following the appointment of Prince Oluwatimileyin Oluyemi Ajayi as the Olojudo of Ido Ayegunle by the Osun State Government.

Commenting on the latest attack, Adebusuyi said the attackers covered their faces.

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He further said, “Our people were in the community yesterday, going about their normal activities when hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded our community. They started shooting. They covered their faces but we could recognise some of them.

“They came from the Esa Oke axis, arriving on motorcycles around 10 am They surrounded our community and killed four people in a brutal manner. They cut the head off one of them and the wrist of another.

“After killing them, they threw their bodies inside a well and used big stones and slabs to cover them. All those killed were from Ido Ayegunle. We are still looking for two people, but four have been confirmed dead. Their remains are at Wesley Guild Hospital morgue in Ilesa.”

He urged the state government to ensure those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.

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The Owamiran of Esa Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, when contacted, dismissed the allegations, saying those accusing his community should provide proof.

“I know nothing about the incident,” Oba Adediran said.

Meanwhile, Oba Adediran was sighted at the premises of the Osun Command headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Osogbo on Friday.

Sources said that during the visit to the command headquarters, the royal father met the State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, to discuss issues relating to the crises in the area.

Giving an update on the security situation in Ido Ayegunle, Abiodun Ojelabi, the police spokesperson in the state, said the crisis was caused by a disagreement over boundaries.

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He confirmed the death of four people.

“It is a continuation of the previous clash; the people have not relented. As of yesterday (Thursday), when it happened, the police swung into action. Our men went to the scene, but the perpetrators fled when they saw the police.

“The CP visited the place today; we have just returned. Four people were killed in the clash. Those deaths were probably caused by the delay before they were taken to the hospital.

“Some houses were burnt, and properties including bikes, generators, and streetlights were damaged. Nobody has been arrested yet, but we have recovered some items that could help in our investigation. We are on it, and by God’s grace, those responsible will face the full wrath of the law. Our men are on the ground; the DPO, Area Commander, and tactical team are present,” Ojelabi said.
(PUNCH)

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, and described as the “most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer” in Lagos in recent years.

The 44-year-old man was apprehended during a coordinated tactical operation code-named ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ carried out by the Command’s Tactical Squad in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State.

In a statement issued on Friday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of the state command, said Akinwande who is known for terrorising Mushin and surrounding areas was trailed to Ogun after efforts to nab him were unsuccessful.

“Arrest of most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer and head of killers gang in the history of Lagos State in recent time, Wasiu Akinwade a.k.a. Olori Eso, and recovery of nine (9) sophisticated firearms, ammunition, magazines, dagger, walkie-talkies and international passports,” the statement partly read.

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The suspect is accused of leading several deadly gangs responsible for over a decade of violent crimes including armed robbery, murder, cult-related killings, and kidnappings.

Hundeyin disclosed, “This serial killer suspect is the most wanted suspect in Lagos history in recent time.

“His arrest marks a huge success in the ongoing fight against violent crimes that are threats to security and safety of residents in Mushin and some other parts of Lagos State.”

According to the statement, the police recovered a large cache of weapons and incriminating items from Akinwande’s residence, which the suspect “freely admitted he was using for his killing operations with his gang.”

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“The recovered items include: Two (2) AK-47 rifles, one (1) K2 assault rifle, one (1) Red Ryder rifle, three (3) pump action rifles, two (2) locally made single-barrel pistols, five (5) magazines, fifty-seven (57) live cartridges, seventy (70) 5.56 live ammunition, twenty-seven (27) 9mm ammunition, one (1) expended 5.56 ammunition, one (1) dagger, three (3) walkie-talkies, nine (9) international passports belonging to different individuals,” Hundeyin stated.

The Command also said Akinwande’s crimes left deep scars on victims’ families and the public.

“Akinwande’s criminal activities have left trauma, horror, agony and pains in the families of victims of his numerous high-profile crimes under investigation by the Lagos State Police Command.”

It was revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department to lead an expanded investigation and arrest other suspects linked to the killings.

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“The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has been directed by the Commissioner of Police to lead other specially selected crack detectives to broaden the investigation of the cases and round up all other suspects linked to Wasiu Akinwande and bring them to justice.”

Hundeyin said four families have come forward to identify Akinwande as the person behind the killings of their relatives.

He said Akinwande is currently in custody under heavy security and he will “face the full weight of the law for all his crimes.”

Two passengers were on Friday arraigned before Magistrates’ Court, Karu, Abuja, for allegedly stealing driver’s cell phone and cash of N20,000.

The defendants James Ayuba, 31 and Sophia Suleiman, 34 were arraigned on a three-count charge of joint acts, theft and belonging to gang of thieves.

They however, denied committing the offence.

The prosecutor Olarewaju Osho had told the court that the complainant, Mr Joseph Gbenda of Kubwa, Abuja reported the matter at the Karu Police Station on June 18.

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Osho alleged that on June 17, the complainant carried the defendants in his car from Area 1, Garki, Abuja to Nyanya, Abuja, where they alighted.

However, upon dropping the defendants, he discovered that they had jointly conspired and stole his Infinix Smart 3 cell phone and cash of N20,000.

“The complainant reported the matter at Karu police station, and they later traced the defendants to their hideouts behind Karu cemetery and recovered the stolen phone without the cash of N20,000,” he said.

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The prosecutor stated that upon investigation, it was further discovered that the defendants belonged to a gang of thieves specialised in committing crimes.

Osho equally informed the court that the defendants had just been released three days ago on administrative bail by a magistrate court, for committing similar offence.

The prosecutor claimed that the offence contravened sections 79, 288 and 306 of the Penal Code and punishable under the same law.

After listening to the charge, Senior Magistrate, Ngozi Okonkwo adjourned the matter until June 24.