Ijebu violence: 15 bodies deposited in mortuary, community deserted

The bodies of about 15 victims of the communal violence in Ijebu Ife, Ogun State, may have been deposited in the mortuary of the state hospital in Ijebu Ode.

Although no official figure of casualties has been given, a competent security source, who did not want his name printed, told our correspondents that the number would not exceed 15.
An Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Omololu Oladokun, was burnt to death by aggrieved youths on Saturday.

The youths were said to have been protesting the alleged killing of a tailor by some members of the community’s vigilante group when a distress call was sent to Oladokun.

Sources claimed that the senior police officer arrived at the scene with some of his officers whom he later asked to go and purchase petrol. One of the sources said that while he was trying to calm the irate youths, he was lured to a corner where he was shot dead and his body set ablaze.

The security meeting, it was learnt, was said to be strategic in guiding the state government to fashion out steps to prevent the violence from escalating.

The meeting at the Government House, Abeokuta, was also attended by the Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria and Chairman, Remo North Local Government Area, Mr. John Obafemi, as well as the state ALGON Secretary and Chairman, Abeokuta North LGA, Mr. Abeeb Ajayi.
Others in attendance were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Alhaji Lamidi Odulawa, and the Chairman, Ijebu East LGA, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye.

Our correspondents who visited Ijebu Ife on Sunday saw only few residents and domestic animals. One of the residents claimed that many people had fled for fear that policemen might carry out a reprisal attack on them over the death of Oladokun, who was the Area Commander, Ijebu Division.
Burnt vehicles and houses revealed the level of the violence which was sparked by the alleged killing of a tailor.

While riot and regular policemen barricaded entrances to the town, Armoured Personnel Carriers were also seen patrolling the town.

Daniel, who visited the town on Saturday, described the mayhem as unfortunate and called on the police to launch a full scale investigation into it.

He said, “These people must be brought to book. One wonders why some of these people would take the law into their hands. Even if they have grievances, are there no channels to resolve such grievances?”
He said that the slain Oladokun was a gallant officer, who did not deserve such a gruesome murder.


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