The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Edward Ajogun, on Wednesday, gave 48 hours ultimatum to leaders of Aba Tuntun community and its environs in Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area, to release the missing Constable, Emmanuel Gene, either dead or alive.
Ajogun, flanked by the State Commissioner for Forestry, Tunji Akinosi, threatened the showdown at a fact finding meeting with leaders of community in Abeokuta, the state capital.
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The missing constable was held hostage in the community on December 1 when some hoodlums attacked policemen.
Daily Trust reports that arms wielding hoodlums had abducted four policemen and shot a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in an attack on the security operatives at Aba Tuntun.
It was gathered that the security agents had stormed the village on a disarm mission following a petition written by the head of the community.
It was further gathered that the Baale had earlier petitioned the police, complaining that some people within his community were in possession of firearms, which they use to terrorise the villagers.
In a swift response to the petition, a joint team of 15 officers and 35 local vigilantes raided the community in search of weapons in the circulation.
However, their cohorts waylaid the security agents on their way out of the community and opened fire on them.
In the ensuing attacks, the DPO, who led the team, was shot in the arm while some others sustained gunshot injuries.
However, three of the four abducted officers have been rescued, but a Constable, Emmanuel Gene, remains in the hoodlums’ custody.
Speaking at the meeting on Wednesday at the state ministry of forestry, Oke Mosan, Ajogun said the community must produce the officer or face the consequences.
The visibly enraged CP said the command had refrained from attacking the community since the incident occurred in order to avoid bloodshed.
Ajogun noted that the command may not be able to keep peace if the missing cop is not produced dead or alive.
“I don’t want to set the community ablaze because in the end, you will all run away.
“So, dead or alive, let me see my constable,” the CP said.
Earlier in his address, Akinosi re-echoed the ultimatum, saying the state could not watch while the community engaged the security operatives in a bloody attack.
Akinosi noted that the community is dominated by illegal occupants who had been ordered to vacant the area.
“If you could attack police with guns, I wonder what you can do with government officials,” the Commissioner said.
The family of the cop had accused the police command of not “doing enough to secure the release of their son.”
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