Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three suspected members of a land-grabbing syndicate terrorizing Gbayunre village in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA of the state.
The suspects allegedly invaded the village with weapons and chased out a family from their landed property situated in the Atan Ayunre area and forcefully occupied the village.
They are, Sunday Owoyele, 32, Idowu Ayobami, 32, and Kola Owolabi, 39.
The police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Monday told newsmen in Abeokuta that they were arrested following a petition received from the Dada Gbabi family of Gbayunre village, stating that a group of land grabbers led by one Joseph Ayodele attacked them.
“On the strength of the petition, the Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Babakura Muhammed, to investigate the case and bring the culprits to book.
“In compliance with the CP’s directive, the DC detailed a team of detectives to the scene where three members of the syndicate were apprehended, while others, including their leader, Ayodele Joseph, who has been on the wanted list of the command in connection with a series of violent land grabbing cases in Ado-Odo Ota and its environs, took to their heels,” he said.
Oyeyemi said, “One of the arrested suspects, Kola Owolabi, had once been arrested for snatching a rifle from an officer but was overpowered, and subsequently charged to court and remanded in prison custody.”
He said assorted charms and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects.
Oyeyemi quoted the command as having advised Ayodele Joseph, the leader of the violent gang, to report himself to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran Abeokuta, in his own interest.
He said if he failed to do so, “he should rest assured that he will be hunted for and brought to justice, as the command will not fold its arms while some unscrupulous elements will be making life difficult for innocent members of the public.”
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