One killed as OPC rescues kidnapped landlords

Why banker shot self in front of priest

Four suspected gunmen who have been terrorising residents of Igbo Olomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu in Lagos State were yesterday nabbed by members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a socio-cultural group based in the Southwest.

The OPC members had engaged the suspects in a gun battle around Yewa community in Igbo Olomu before facilitating the release of two landlords, who were abducted in the area.

A member of the OPC was allegedly killed during the gun duel though others succeeded in arresting four members of the gang, who were later handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Owutu Police Station, who in turn handed over them over to the Area Commander in charge of the area.

It was gathered that the OPC members from Ogbagba zone had responded to a distress call that the militants had invaded Yewa area of Olainu Kan, where they kidnapped two people, including a landlord, simply identified as Mr. Daniel.

The OPC responded and caught up with the militants, who by then, had relocated to the creeks and a clash ensued between the two groups. The abducted persons were rescued.

According to a source, the militants regrouped and waylaid the OPC members on their way back, killing one of them, Mr. Tunde Sogunro, in another round of gun duel.

An OPC leader, who commented on the incident under the condition of anonymity, said: “People have been saying all sorts of things about OPC not doing anything about the militants in Yorubaland. We have lost one of our members but people will not come out and say that OPC rescued two people, who were kidnapped by the militants. Nobody will say something about compensating his family.”

The coordinator of the OPC in the troubled zone, Femi Atiku, confirmed the arrest of the suspects to newsmen and expressed the condolence of the group to relatives of the deceased member.

He quickly pointed out that the exercise was not a directive from the national leadership of the OPC but a community effort by the zonal unit of the group.

Lagos State police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of the suspected abductors. She also disclosed that one 44-year-old Olisa Nwakobi, a banker, killed himself following life’s frustrations.

The Guardian gathered that the late Nwakobi, a resident of No. 11, Aladin Close, Chevron Drive, Lekki and an employee of FCMB Bank allegedly shot himself in the head in the presence of his priest at the weekend, after telling the priest to tell his wife to take care of their children.

According to Badmos, “Nwakoba allegedly shot himself with a pistol in front of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Lekki. A team of policemen attached to Ilasan Division visited and examined the scene.

“The exhibit, a silver America Pistol with five rounds of unexpended AMM6 was recovered to the station, while the body was removed and deposited at Lagos Island mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is, however, ongoing.”

It was gathered that Nwakobi committed suicide following a bad loan decision he made at work. The deceased, whose late father, Chief Patrick Oguejiofor Nwakobi, was also a former chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, allegedly took his life because he was under pressure to recover a loan of N350million, which he had approved for a beneficiary.