Police raid hot spots, arrest suspects in Ogun

• Report accidental death of technician

To prevent crime and criminalities, Ogun State Police Command has embarked on continuous raiding of hot spots and villages along Lagos/Ibadan expressway, and environs, arresting suspects, and recovering exhibits including illicit drugs.

Spokesperson for the command, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the development to The Guardian yesterday, said the crime prevention raiding has become a routine affair in Ogun State Command to nip crime in the bud, before the bad boys attack.

According to her, during the raid by Sagamu division of the command on Friday, December 13, one Umar Yakubu ‘m’, 20, and 29 others were arrested, while shanties suspected to have been built and inhabited by hoodlums were destroyed.

Some of the exhibits recovered during the raid, she said, included dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, three daggers, two big industrial hammers, two saw cutters, iron rods and pipes, one constructed industrial spanner, one trailer/truck jack, one jack-knife and a cable wire suspected to be stolen.

Odutola said a discreet investigation is in progress, while further development will be communicated to the public. In a similar raid by Ago Iwoye division on Thursday, December 12, at about 9:40p.m., one Sunday Ibrahim, ‘m’, Basirat Kareem, ‘f’, Kayode Salami, ‘m’, Ibrahim Jimoh, ‘m’, Lekan Folorunso, ‘m’, were arrested and brought to the station.

In a related development, the Police in conjunction with members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Agbekoya on Friday, December 13, carried out purposeful raiding of black spots in Ilese Ijebu and in the process, seven suspects were arrested, while five motorcycles, one tricycle, one unregistered toyota camry and one 4matic benz car were recovered and brought to the station.

All the suspects, she said, are undergoing screening and those found culpable will be charged to court accordingly.In another development, one Taoheed Abdulateef, ‘m’, of Mercy Land Estate Adeun, Abeokuta, on Friday, December 13, came at Ilupeju Division, at about 9:50a.m. with blood all over his body and reported that on same date at about 5:45a.m., he was in his house at the above address when one Adekunle Onilenla, ‘m’, of Feyintola Rounder, Abeokuta came with a knife and broken bottle, stabbed and wounded him on his left wrist, on the face and on his head.

“The victim was rushed to Sabo health centre receiving treatment, while the suspect has been arrested by the intervention team,” the police said.
Meanwhile, the command reported the accidental death of a 60-year-old air conditioning and refrigerator technician, from Ikorodu, Lagos State.

According to her, on Friday, December 13, at about 9:00p.m., one Abraham Popoola, a resident of Adams Ajakaya Street, Olambe Junction, Ogun State, reported an incident involving Najeem, a 60-year-old air conditioning and refrigerator technician from Ikorodu, Lagos State. Najeem was working at Popoola’s residence, which is located in a two-storey building.

While attempting to refill the A/C gas, he climbed a ladder while holding a small gas cylinder. Unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell, hitting his head on the concrete floor, which resulted in bleeding and his immediate death.

However, the Ajuwon divisional police officer responded by visiting the scene, took photographs, and the body was transported to Life Channel Mortuary for preservation.

Odutola stressed that another increasing measure by the police to check crimes is the bank guard patrol to ensure the safety and surveillance of all banks in Ogun State. She urged members of the public to immediately get involved in crime prevention measures by volunteering anonymous and credible information to the command.

She also reiterated that one chance syndicates are still very much ongoing despite arresting some culprits recently.

“This is a precautionary warning to users of commercial vehicle to use their phones to snap the drivers and the vehicle in the event they do not feel safe or unsure of the other occupants, and then upload same to the police department nearest to them, it sends an alert to the suspects that their operation will be monitored.

“The use of fireworks is banned and illegal at this period. It is not only dangerous, it stirs panic, and fear in the minds of the community as many peaceful residents, especially the aged, may not be able to differentiate the sounds of fireworks and guns. Young persons are enjoined to cooperate with the Police as anyone found in flagrant violation of the use of fireworks will be arrested.

“Lastly, members of the public are not allowed to share stories or mutate unconfirmed stories that have not been released by the state command. Doing so will invite division and capable of sending aggravated assault or a state of panic in the minds of people in the state.

“The Yuletide will be held peacefully and with the visibility of police presence across the state,” she added.