metr Ritual: 17 arrested as mob NEW TELEGRAPH
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ABIODUN BELLO
FEATURES Editor
abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com
tuesday, April 22, 2014
Sanctity
Tuesday, Ap
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attacks suspected den
Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta
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here was pandemonium yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as a mob attempted to set ablaze a two-storey building which was suspected to be a ritual killers’ den. The house, located at No. 30 CDA Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta and owned by a retired deputy superintendent of police, was invaded by hundreds of angry youths who were promptly dispersed by armed policemen. At the end of the confusion, which turned out to have been ignited by a false alarm, the police arrested 17 people. It was learnt that rumour about a suspected ritual killers’ house with human parts had spread rapidly in Ijaiye area of Abeokuta, prompting policemen, officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSCO) to mobilise to the area. Witnesses said nothing incriminating was found after a thorough search of the house, though the owner and other occupants were reportedly not
around. But it was gathered that some youths, who were still not satisfied, vandalised the house and attempted to set it on fire. In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the incident was uncalled for and criminal in nature, warning the public to desist from such. Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of police, disclosed that 17 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident and would be charged to court. The PPRO also deplored the “jungle justice” meted out to two “mad men” in Enugada and Lafenwa areas of Abeokuta yesterday before they were rescued by policemen. He said: “This is pure jungle justice and it is unacceptable as it will not help the police in their investigation; and a gross violation of people’s fundamental human rights. “Even if such suspects are noticed or apprehended, members of the public are expected to hand them over to the police for thorough investigation. “The attention of the Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to
with (exotic) cars who are always Umar Manko, Lagos wrongly alleged of child stealing Juliana Franci or ritual killing which make some hoodlums wound and eventually extort them and damage their vehicles. he Division charge of O “For instance, the attempted attack on a house allegedly used as perintende ritual killers’ den at No 30 CDA Awe, who is be Asipa Street, Ijaiye, Abeokuta today edly raping a d (Monday) 21st April at about 1000hrs was uncalled for and criminal in nature.” Adejobi said the prompt intervention of the policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Tony Anicheb Oke Itoku Division saved the house Uyo of an innocent individual from being burnt by some hoodlums. middle-ag as Mr An He said: “After the intervention of some community leaders includedly stabb ing the Balogun of Ijaiye and even at the weekend the Secretary to the State Govern- pay a N150,000 ment, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, The inciden who came to assess the situation on at night on O the directive of the Governor, Sena- Akpan Avenue tor Ibikunle Amosun, and thorough State capital, search of the said house by the police, dents of the ar It was gathe high chiefs of the area and representatives of the youth, some miscreants be-identified c still attacked the police with a view to turbing Okon But unable gain entrance into the said house to loot the property therein and set the ed to take his l house ablaze.” harassment.
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Man c
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Okoye Ikemefuna, Ogun CP
the way some members of the public attack certain individuals with frivolous allegations of kidnap and child stealing/ritual killings in Abeokuta and major cities in Ogun State. “The command is not comfortable with these cases of attack on persons of unsound minds and those
Residents bemoan gridlock over Nyanya checkpo Anule Emmanuel Abuja
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he residents of Abuja playing the Nyanya - Keffi Road have cried out over gridlock caused by checkpoint mounted by soldiers. The traffic jam started since Thursday last week, following the bomb blast Nyanya Motor Park on the road. Some commuters and motorists who were caught in the gridlock yesterday were those heading into Abuja city centre for Easter church services. Most of them reside in areas like Karu, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Mararaba, New Nyanya and Masaka among other satellite towns. The traffic jam spread from the
expressway into inner roads in Karu. Stern-looking soldiers deployed after the Nyanya bomb blast blocked the traffic inward Abuja, leaving only one lane open. One of the motorists trapped in the traffic jam, Mr. Eugene Igbudu, told our correspondent that it was unfortunate that such hardship could be unleashed on innocent Nigerians. He wondered what would happen on the road when workers resume work today, if the traffic jam could be that serious yesterday, being a public holiday. Another motorist, Joseph Chiahemba, said “on the day they started (Thursday), I left my house in New Nyanya at 8am for work and
I did not get to the city centre until 3pm”. Senator Philip Aduda, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), told State House corresponds at the weekend that he had taken up the issue with President Goodluck Jonathan. Aduda was at the Presidential Villa during a visit of a delegation of Abuja residents to the President during the Easter celebration. He expressed the belief that Jonathan would address the situation soon. The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammed, also confirmed that he had received numerous complaints on the issue and promised that something would be done about it.
File picture of the Nyanya blast