The police bought exhausting knocks yesterday for arresting members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) after members apprehended a suspected kidnap kingpin, Iskilu Wakiliin Ayete, in Oyo State.
Wakilin is believed to be the chief of a bunch of herdsmen, terrorising farmers in Ibarapa space in Oyo State.
Following the expulsion of Seriki Hausa Ibarapa by Sunday Igboho, Wakilin reportedly mounted no-cross zone on farms, sending warnings to indigenes of Ayete in Ibarapa and infrequently boasted that he couldn’t be evicted from the city.
Alongside together with his battalion of herders, he was stated to have displaced farmers and forcibly invaded their farms with cattle, capturing farmers who crossed the no-cross zone line he created.
Resulting from his lethal atrocities, farmers abandoned their farms and couldn’t harvest their crops.
Additionally on the weekend, two farmers had been discovered useless on their farms in Ekiti. They’d gunshot wound of their our bodies. They had been believed to have been killed by herdsmen.
The police in Oyo State confirmed the arrest of three members of OPC after they arrested Wakiliin.
The police stated the boys are being interrogated for his or her involvement in arson and homicide whereas finishing up the arrest.
Police spokesman Olugbenga Fadeyi stated the Commissioner of Police had directed that Wakilin be moved to the hospital.
He stated “The Oyo State Police Command want to inform most people that at about 0900 hrs of date (seventh March 2021), info was obtained {that a} group of individuals, (later discovered to be members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), had invaded Kajola neighborhood in Ibarapa axis of the state.
“The invasion was reportedly aimed toward arresting one Wakili, a Fulani by tribe, who’s alleged to be the sponsor and mastermind of assorted legal assaults towards the folks/farmers of Yoruba origin in the neighborhood.
”The State Commissioner of Police has rapidly moved into motion and preliminary findings revealed that some OPC members went to Kajola neighborhood in Ibarapa North Native authorities Space of Oyo State.
”Whereas there, the home of Wakilin was set ablaze, whereas a feminine (the id of who’s but to be ascertained) was burnt within the fireplace and Wakilin (about 75 years outdated and blind) with two different individuals had been picked up.
”The three of them are presently within the custody of the Police. The Commissioner of Police has directed that Wakili (as a result of his frail look and state of well being) be moved to the hospital, whereas others are being interrogated. Others being interrogated are the OPC members concerned within the arson and homicide.
“In conclusion, anyone that has any case towards Iskilu Wakili ought to report it to the State Felony Investigation Division, (CID), Iyaganku, Ibadan for discreet Investigation.”
OPC chief Adams hailed his males for doing “ a purely neat job”.
In keeping with an announcement by his particular assistant Kehinde Aderemi, Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, stated: “I’m pleased that the infamous kidnapper had been captured alongside three others. It’s a good improvement and a constructive sign to different legal parts that the South-West is now not an abode for bandits, kidnappers, and legal herders
“I commend all of the members of the joint safety crew that has made this doable as a result of with the video at my disposal, it was purely a neat job”
Recounting how Wakilin was arrested, the Igangan Improvement Advocates, the umbrella physique of youths and residents in Igangan, which recommended the OPC for what it described as “a valiant show,” stated: “On Saturday, sixth March 2021, the boys of OPC below Iba Gani Adams management effected the arrest of 1 Wakilin, a infamous chief of a violent gang that has unleashed terror on the folks of Ayete, Tapa and Igangan in Ibarapa for a very long time.
”Iskilu Wakilin had not too long ago taken over the Kajola agric panorama of Ayete, daring farmers and safety operatives to cross into his territories.
”Along with his rising inhabitants of herdsmen and weapons similar to AK47, Iskilu virtually paralysed the financial actions of the residents of Kajola, Magbeje, Gbangbangere, Konko and environ. Farmers deserted their farms and pending harvest, many farmers and merchants, who dare to cross the no cross over pink flag if Iskilu had been maimed and shot at, leaving billions of property destroyed in his wake.
”The OPC crew, led by Chief Adedeji Wole, rose to the event. First, they truncated the latest kidnapping try by Iskilu’s goons and bought the abductors arrested only a few weeks in the past.
”Right this moment, they accomplished this operation with none bloodshed to the alleged gang chief and members, even within the face of utmost provocation through which gang members shot a number of instances on the OPC members.
”In finishing up this operation with such uncommon self-discipline, the OPC has not solely impressed hope among the many long-suffering residents of the beleaguered neighborhood, it has additionally laid down a excessive commonplace for cooperation between residents and police and safety forces within the acquire effort to sort out the menace of gang violence terrorism throughout Yorubaland.”
He added: “Tragically nonetheless, we’re horrified to listen to studies that the police have arrested 4 members of the heroic OPC crew that commendably and impeccably effected the apprehension of the lethal Wakilin and his males.”
The group described the arrest of OPC males by the Police as an “assault on the sensibilities of individuals of goodwill.”
Afenifere recommended the OPC for Wakilin’s arrest.
Its Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, in an announcement, stated: “Afenifere offers large commendation to OPC below Iba Gani Adams for the arrest of Iskilu Wakili, a bandit who has been spreading terror on our folks in Ibarapa space and the Nigerian Police and different safety businesses [are] unable to do something about him.
”The early morning peaceable arrest confirms our place on how efficient native initiative can do nicely in homeland safety.
”We weren’t shocked that however for the intervention by the management in Oyo State, the police would have gone after the OPC boys, as an alternative of taking the legal from them and do the needful.
The Yorùbá Summit Group in an announcement by its Publicity Secretary Gboyega Adejumo, stated: ”We name on regulation enforcement businesses, to which each Wakili and the matter have been deposited into their care, to do their job, consciously and carefully.”
