Afeez Hanafi
Trouble seems to be multiplying for the Divisional Police Officer, Igbogbo Police Station, Ikorodu, Lagos State, as another family has alleged that its member, Sodiq Omobowale, got missing under his watch.
The DPO is currently being detained over the disappearance of 26-year-old Waidi Kabiru, who was also abducted from the station.
The DPO has been in detention at the State Department of Criminal Investigation over his failure to account for the missing youth (Kabiru). Omobowale’s case is a fresh one.
It was learnt that members of a vigilance group, called Onyabo, in Ikorodu had stormed Omobowale’s residence at Atewo Jaiyesimi Itumeko on July 7 around 7am and accused him of belonging to a cult group.
The vigilantes, reportedly led by one Bonbata and Lanre, were said to have beaten up the 23-year-old man. It was gathered that he was eventually taken to the station where he was detained.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Kemi Agbaje, and his uncle, Azeez Ibrahim, had gone to the station on the fateful day and tried in vain to secure his bail.
The mother said the policemen she met at the station the following day told her that Omobowale had been released to the vigilance group.
Agbaje said the family approached the Onyabo men and was told to look for him at the state police command. She said the family had been to several police stations and prisons, but her son had yet to be found.
Waidi
“We went to the police command in Ikeja, the Federal SARS in Adeniji Adele and Badagry, Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons. They checked their records and told us he was not in their custody. We met with the DPO too. He said my son was a cultist and told us not to bother looking for him,” he added.
Omobowale’s wife, Yetunde, said the gun-wielding vigilance members, numbering about 10, beat her husband until he passed out. She added that they revived him and took him around the community before he was taken to the station.
She said, “They dragged him from his room and beat him up until he collapsed. They poured water on him before he regained consciousness. I stopped begging them when they pointed guns at me and threatened to shoot me if I came near them.”
Yetunde added that the policemen at the station eventually denied that her husband was detained when she put pressure on them to provide him.
The Coordinator, Women Arise for Change Initiative in Ikorodu, Mr. Adebayo Obatungase, who is handling the matter on behalf of the family, appealed to Lagos State and the Federal Government to wade into Omobowale’s “disappearance” from the station.
He said, “The woman (Agbaje) brought the matter to our notice last week and all efforts to locate the boy were abortive. We urged the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to do everything he can on this matter.
“I have been following reports on one Waidi Kabiru, who was also missing from the same station. It is worrisome. I can’t understand why the police would allow some people to abduct a suspect detained in a station. We are appealing to authorities to show concern on this matter.”
The Lagos State police spokesperson, DSP Joe Offor, promised to verify the incident from the new DPO of the station and get back with our correspondent.
He said, “The affected DPO has been removed. I will make enquiries from the new DPO on the case and get back to you.”
[Punch]
Trouble seems to be multiplying for the Divisional Police Officer, Igbogbo Police Station, Ikorodu, Lagos State, as another family has alleged that its member, Sodiq Omobowale, got missing under his watch.
The DPO is currently being detained over the disappearance of 26-year-old Waidi Kabiru, who was also abducted from the station.
The DPO has been in detention at the State Department of Criminal Investigation over his failure to account for the missing youth (Kabiru). Omobowale’s case is a fresh one.
It was learnt that members of a vigilance group, called Onyabo, in Ikorodu had stormed Omobowale’s residence at Atewo Jaiyesimi Itumeko on July 7 around 7am and accused him of belonging to a cult group.
The vigilantes, reportedly led by one Bonbata and Lanre, were said to have beaten up the 23-year-old man. It was gathered that he was eventually taken to the station where he was detained.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Kemi Agbaje, and his uncle, Azeez Ibrahim, had gone to the station on the fateful day and tried in vain to secure his bail.
The mother said the policemen she met at the station the following day told her that Omobowale had been released to the vigilance group.
Agbaje said the family approached the Onyabo men and was told to look for him at the state police command. She said the family had been to several police stations and prisons, but her son had yet to be found.
Waidi“We went to the police command in Ikeja, the Federal SARS in Adeniji Adele and Badagry, Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons. They checked their records and told us he was not in their custody. We met with the DPO too. He said my son was a cultist and told us not to bother looking for him,” he added.
Omobowale’s wife, Yetunde, said the gun-wielding vigilance members, numbering about 10, beat her husband until he passed out. She added that they revived him and took him around the community before he was taken to the station.
She said, “They dragged him from his room and beat him up until he collapsed. They poured water on him before he regained consciousness. I stopped begging them when they pointed guns at me and threatened to shoot me if I came near them.”
Yetunde added that the policemen at the station eventually denied that her husband was detained when she put pressure on them to provide him.
The Coordinator, Women Arise for Change Initiative in Ikorodu, Mr. Adebayo Obatungase, who is handling the matter on behalf of the family, appealed to Lagos State and the Federal Government to wade into Omobowale’s “disappearance” from the station.
He said, “The woman (Agbaje) brought the matter to our notice last week and all efforts to locate the boy were abortive. We urged the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to do everything he can on this matter.
“I have been following reports on one Waidi Kabiru, who was also missing from the same station. It is worrisome. I can’t understand why the police would allow some people to abduct a suspect detained in a station. We are appealing to authorities to show concern on this matter.”
The Lagos State police spokesperson, DSP Joe Offor, promised to verify the incident from the new DPO of the station and get back with our correspondent.
He said, “The affected DPO has been removed. I will make enquiries from the new DPO on the case and get back to you.”
[Punch]
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