Ile-Ife Crisis: Police Parade 38 Suspects

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Following the deployment of Special Intervention Force to Ile-Ife by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris, the police made some arrests, detention and investigation of 38 suspects out of which 20 of the suspects were found culpable for direct and indirect participation in the killing of innocent people, maiming and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
The suspects are to be prosecuted on completion of investigation, while the remaining 18 suspects have been released unconditionally for lack of prima facie evidence against them.
The IGP special intervention Force that successfully made the arrests comprised of five Units of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), specially trained Anti Riot Policemen, five cells of Counter Terrorism Unit, conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Technical Intelligence Unit, SIB, detachment of EOD, Police K9 Sniffer Dogs Section, with their headquarters in Ile-Ife, led by the Commissioner of Police in charge of PMF, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The operations covered the entire Ile-Ife and environs, and other flash/trouble spots in Osun State, and was successfully executed leading
The police report stated that on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at about 2010hrs, one Alh. Nasiru Abdul Magaji ‘m’ of no. 50, Sabo Street, Ile-Ife, Osun State reported at Moore Police Station that one Oba Ademola Ademiluyi ‘m, the Lawarikan of Apoje land, one Eluwole Akeem ‘m’ (a.k.a Escort) and Kuburat wife of Eluwole Akeem ‘Escort’ all of Ile-Ife, brought some hoodlums with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons to attack the Hausas resident at Sabo area of Ile Ife over a fight between one Abubakar Mohammed ‘m’ of Sabo and Kuburat the wife of Eluwole Akeem ‘Escort’.
It added that the affray which arose from an altercation between the said Kuburat and Mohammed, was amicably settled on Monday, March 6, 2017.
A statement issued by Jimoh Moshood further said; “Based on the report at the Moore Police Station, a case of conduct likely to cause breach of peace was made against the duo of Kuburat and Mohammed and on getting to the scene; the Police team met two groups comprising the Hausas and the Yorubas throwing stones at each other.
“The riotous groups were dispersed and calm was restored. The responding Police teams maintained presence at Sabo area of Ile Ife up till the next day. Unexpectedly, on Wednesday 8th March, 2017, the peace of the area was shattered with the eruption of crisis that led to the gruesome killings of forty-six (46) people.
“A total of 96 other persons were taken to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) out of which 81 of them were treated and discharged, while 15 of the victims are still on admission receiving treatment.
“The Special Intervention Force deployed to quell the crisis did not engage in indiscriminate arrests as being reported in some media but worked on actionable intelligence and other information gathered during and after the crisis. And that is why 18 suspects found not to be involved in the crisis were released unconditionally.
“Traditional rulers, religious leaders, public office holders, politicians, opinion leaders, parents and guardians are hereby called upon to prevail on their subjects, supporters, children and wards to support the personnel of the Police Special Intervention Force still on ground in Ile Ife and other flash points in Osun State in the discharge of their responsibilities, and propagate peace, demonstrate love, and tolerance to promote harmonious coexistence with their brothers and fellow citizens, irrespective of religious, ethnic or political inclinations and differences.”
Moshood gave the assurance of the Inspector General of Police to the good people and communities of Ile-Ife and other parts of the state of adequate security and protection of their lives and properties just as he enjoined them to be law abiding and give a chance for peace to prevail.
It will be recalled that clashes, disturbance of public peace and mayhem that occurred in Ile-Ife, Osun State on March 8, 2017, resulted in the loss of innocent lives, destruction of properties worth millions of Naira.