The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abiodun Odude

  • ‘Police short of personnel’

    Oyo State Commissioner of Police Abiodun Odude has said that the police are short of personnel.

    He added that out of the 774 local government areas in the country, the police force only has about 1,500 police divisions. Mr. Odude spoke this at the commissioning of a police post built by the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Worldwide at Galilee, Ilorin-Ogbomoso expressway.

    He said: “Our job is policing and where there is no policing, there cannot be life. Our job is to protect lives and property and to apprehend those might have committed crime.  And we promise to do the best we can in the fulfillment of this assignment. As you know there has been clamour for state police, but currently we still work under the Federal Government.

    “We have 774 local government areas in Nigeria and not more than 1,500 police divisions. It is not easy for the Federal Government to do this alone. So when we see groups, patriotic Nigerians to assist us protect lives and property, it gladdens our hearts. I am so glad this afternoon that we have come to commission this police station which was built absolutely with the efforts of Galilee Church.

    “Policing is a collective responsibility. We all have a role to play in providing security. We want people to contribute physically for the protection of lives and property.

    “We want to urge the monarchs and community leaders to assist us to completely eradicate herdsmen/farmers clashes in the state. There are crimes that are peculiar to every area.”

    Earlier, Spiritual Father of the church, Rev Samuel Abidoye decried frequent incursion of herdsmen into the land.”

  • Cultists kill former CSO of Ibadan Polytechnic

    A former Chief Security Officer of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Ahmed Olalekan, has been shot dead by suspected cultists who traced him to his residence in Apete, Ibadan.

    Olalekan, a graduate of the institution was shot on the neck on Monday by the suspected membesr of the dreaded Aiye Confraternity of Nigeria.

    An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday that the suspected assailants inflicted some machete cuts on the deceased before they fled.

    The death of the chief security office who had been behind the clampdown on cultism in the institution, enraged his colleagues who blocked vehicular traffic along the Sango-Eleyele road, Ibadan.

    NAN gathered that some members of the Apete Youths Forum also protested against the killing of Olalekan, their member, in the premises of the institution on Tuesday.

    When NAN visited the institution only few students were on campus while virtually all the lecture halls were empty.

    The school security operatives were on patrol with some posted at strategic locations to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State, ASP Adekunel Ajisebutu, said some policemen had been deployed to the campus to maintain law and order.

    Ajisebutu said some arrests were made and exhibits such as axes and cutlasses recovered.

    The PPRO said the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, had directed that discrete investigation into the incident be carried out and the suspects arrested be charged to court.

  • Ibadan Killings: We don’t want to hurry investigation – Police

    Ibadan Killings: We don’t want to hurry investigation – Police

    Oyo state Police Command on Wednesday said it is still investigating the last week Ibadan shooting and killing of a 30 year -old man, Kehinde Adeleke after a heated argument that broke out at a car park .

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude who described the incident as very unfortunate said the murder case would be thoroughly investigated to unravel the mystery behind the shooting and killing of the young man.

    Speaking through the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) , Superintendent of Police (SP) Adekunle Ajisebutu , the Commissioner explained that the culprit would soon be charged to court after the conclusion of investigation into the murder .

    He, however, cautioned that since the matter involved life, it would not be proper to rush through the investigation, adding that the police needed time to carry out thorough investigation to ascertain the actual killer of the deceased.

    “The suspect will be charged to court after the police have concluded investigation into the case. You know it is a murder case, so the police will not hurry in its investigation. We will do a thorough investigation so that we will be able to ensure that the actual culprit is apprehended. Then, the case will be charged to court for prosecution,” he said.

    Some witnesses had alleged that a soldier attached to the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst shot the victim and not the bar owner, Seyi Olusa.

    Kehinde’s twin brother, Taiwo, however alleged that Olusa grabbed a gun from a soldier and shot the victim after a disagreement at the car park of the Trans Amusement Park where the bar is located.

    But three witnesses of the shooting, who are regular visitors to the bar told our correspondent that Olusa was not at the car park when the shooting happened and that the Nigerian Army should produce the soldier that was attached to the Operation Burst team that was at the scene of the shooting.

    One of the witnesses, Alli Akinoso, said Olusa, being a friend of the victim, had no reason to kill him, adding that he could not have grabbed a gun from a soldier and return it after killing someone with the rifle.

    Akinso said, “I was at the car park and witnessed the whole thing. Kehinde’s junior brother, Damola, was having a fight with someone over parking slot. I tried to talk to him but he did not listen. Then the soldier came and beat him with a stick. He fell down and we offered him water but he did not accept it. When Kehinde showed up, Demola stood up and approached the soldier violently.

    “I saw the siblings struggling with the soldier. That was when the shooting began; then Kehinde fell to the ground. I tried to resuscitate him but there was nothing I could do. Taiwo was not at the scene, he was at the bar, he only came after the shooting and I was the first person he saw. He attacked me and tore my clothes. I still have the clothes with the victim’s blood on it.”

    Asked how Olusa was involved in the shooting, Akinoso explained that the bar owner came out from the bar but went back almost immediately when he saw that Operation Burst men were already there.

    “I saw him at the scene when the fight started; he was trying to mediate but left when the Operation Burst team came. The car park is about 100 meters to the bar. He was not there when the shot was released. It is difficult to snatch a rifle from a soldier and return it after using the same gun to kill someone.”

    In Taiwo’s narration of what happened on the night of the shooting, Olusa was apprehended by his friends but he was let free by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that were attached to Operation Burst.

    However, another witness of the shooting, Yinka Fabunmi, said he, and not Olusa was apprehended by Taiwo and his friends after the shooting.

    “I have an office at Trans Amusement Park and I visit the bar regularly. The place became rowdy soon after the shooting. Olusa was with me inside the bar. He wanted to know what happened, after we heard the shooting. Suddenly, Taiwo came in and grabbed him. He said that soldiers who were called to the scene had killed Kehinde. Then Damola took a bottle and smashed at my face. I was taken to a vehicle but managed to escape when the soldiers intervened. Olusa was never apprehended. I slept at J Rapha hospital in , Kehinde Adeleke took a new twist yesterday as  witnesses alleged that a soldier attached to the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst shot the victim and not the bar owner, Seyi Olusa.

    Kehinde’s twin brother, Taiwo, alleged that Olusa grabbed a gun from a soldier and shot the victim after a disagreement at the car park of the Trans Amusement Park where the bar is located.

    But three witnesses of the shooting, who are regular visitors to the bar told our correspondent that Olusa was not at the car park when the shooting happened and that the Nigerian Army should produce the soldier that was attached to the Operation Burst team that was at the scene of the shooting.

    One of the witnesses, Alli Akinoso, said Olusa, being a friend of the victim, had no reason to kill him, adding that he could not have grabbed a gun from a soldier and return it after killing someone with the rifle.

    Akinso said, “I was at the car park and witnessed the whole thing. Kehinde’s junior brother, Damola, was having a fight with someone over parking slot. I tried to talk to him but he did not listen. Then the soldier came and beat him with a stick. He fell down and we offered him water but he did not accept it. When Kehinde showed up, Demola stood up and approached the soldier violently.

    “I saw the siblings struggling with the soldier. That was when the shooting began; then Kehinde fell to the ground. I tried to resuscitate him but there was nothing I could do. Taiwo was not at the scene, he was at the bar, he only came after the shooting and I was the first person he saw. He attacked me and tore my clothes. I still have the clothes with the victim’s blood on it.”

    Asked how Olusa was involved in the shooting, Akinoso explained that the bar owner came out from the bar but went back almost immediately when he saw that Operation Burst men were already there.

    “I saw him at the scene when the fight started, he was trying to mediate but left when the Operation Burst team came. The car park is about 100 meters to the bar. He was not there when the shot was released. It is difficult to snatch a rifle from a soldier and return it after using the same gun to kill someone.”

    In Taiwo’s narration of what happened on the night of the shooting, Olusa was apprehended by his friends but he was let free by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that were attached to Operation Burst.

    However, another witness of the shooting, Yinka Fabunmi, said he, and not Olusa was apprehended by Taiwo and his friends after the shooting.

    “I have an office at Trans Amusement Park and I visit the bar regularly. The place became rowdy soon after the shooting. Olusa was with me inside the bar. He wanted to know what happened, after we heard the shooting. Suddenly, Taiwo came in and grabbed him. He said that soldiers who were called to the scene had killed Kehinde. Then Damola took a bottle and smashed at my face. I was taken to a vehicle but managed to escape when the soldiers intervened. Olusa was never apprehended. I slept at J Rapha hospital in  Bodija where he was treated.

     

  • Fulani herdsmen kill SARS operative in Oyo

    Fulani herdsmen kill SARS operative in Oyo

    Suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed the Officer-in-charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Saki Area of the Oyo State Police Command.

    The officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, whose name was not disclosed by the Command was said to have been macheted to death by the suspected Fulani herdsmen during an operation in a forest around Saki-Ogboro Road in the Oke Ogun area of the state.

    The incident is coming barely two weeks after the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude and other top officers of the Command held a stakeholders meeting to address issues and crisis between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

    The meeting held at the Eleyele Headquarters of the Command in Ibadan.

    According to a top Source who pleaded anonymity, a combined team of police officers and men of the SARS operatives in the area had arrested some suspected Fulani herdsmen on the ground of disturbing public peace a day earlier, but that the men were ambushed by another gang of herdsmen during another attempt to arrest two other suspects involved in the public chaos.

    The source added that the development has led to palpable fear in Saki and its environs.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu who confirmed the incident said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the death of the officer.

    He, however, added that the Command has commenced an investigation on the incident while assuring people in the area to remain law-abiding and calm.

  • No room for herdsmen/farmers clash in Oyo, Police warn

    No room for herdsmen/farmers clash in Oyo, Police warn

    The Oyo state Police Command yesterday called for peaceful coexistence between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers, stressing that there is no vacancy for bloodshed in the state.

    The Police Command who read riot act to all who are planning to cause disharmony in the state, appealed to such trouble maker to either leave the state or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences .
    Addressing a security interactive forum  organised by the state Police Command, the state Commissioner of police , Mr. Abiodun Odude said ” we have to organise this meeting so that we can address some issues that are affecting our farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria and we have to take this proactive step in this state so that the existing peaceful atmosphere will not be hindered .”

    Odude said “Oyo state is a very peaceful state and we must make sure we do a lot of things in making sure we are having a peaceful society and that is the reason why we are here today.

    “We must make sure that we are doing  series of meetings with both the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the state so that we can address alot of things that could have cause  serious crisis within them, once we are meeting with them some serious issues that can affect both parties will be discussed and settled amicably and in a peaceful manner without shedding blood.”

    while speaking at the forum,  the special adviser to the state governor on security matters , who also represent governor Abiola Ajimobi at the event,  Mr. Segun Abolarinwa said “I commend the state police commissioner for organizing this kind of summit and it is because you are very proactive. The peace we are all enjoying in the state is a collective efforts of all the stakeholders in the state as led by the Oyo state police command.

    He further said “We don’t want what is happening in others states in the country to happen here and that is why this meeting is very crucial at this time. You can all see that we don’t have a problem with the NURTW and also the level of robbery and other crime have drastically reduced so, everybody are sleeping with their  eyes closed and we don’t want anybody to import what does not belong to us here and started creating problem for us, that is why I said this meeting is crucial and we must appreciate the organisers of the stake holders meeting.

    “I have the privilege to have lived within the Hausa/Fulani people in Ejigbo when I was so young then and people are living in peace together and it was the Gah fulani that we use to go and buy wara { Milk Cake}  and all sorts and we are all living together in peaceful environment,  so I don’t want anyone to bring or import any problem that is not ours here.

    “we just have to be living together in peace in  Nigeria because we are so many and we have to learn how to tolerate one another , for we have no where to run to,  God forbids if we have crisis. Our neighbours in right hand which is Benin Republic are just about four million ,  so, we with our population as many as we are,  where are we likely to run to if we have crisis within us? So we need to embrace peace within us and shun all forms of violence.

    “We must all allow peace to rein in Nigeria because if we all fail to make sure we have peaceful coexistence in our society our children will have us to blame for it and they will question us , so we must make sure we embrace peace in our society,  he said.

    In his contribution, chief Saliu Kadiri , Seriki Fulani of Ibarapa area of the state said ” its love that is lost in our society and that is what is resulting to all these killings we are witnessing in our society today and we must all start to embrace peace so that we can have a peaceful atmosphere. “

    Also, Elder Taiye Ayorinde,  the Baale of Ekotedo, Ibadan  said ” Nigerian security is not that strong enough and government must make sure we have a very strong and formidable security so that those people parading themselves as fulani herdsmen can be properly checked, we even heard that those fulanis invaders are not Nigerians and if that is true, what is the duty of our immigration officers and our Customs service too needs to brace up their tactics in curtailing those people.”

  • CP lauds Oyo State security trust fund

    The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, has commended the Oyo State Security Trust Fund for its support to the state police command as well as other security agencies in the state, saying the renewed vigour of the agency has helped in the reduction of crime in the state. He added that the intervention of OYSSTF has improved the efficiency and swift response of the men of the command in combating crimes in the state.

    Describing Oyo as one of the safest states in the country going by every parameter, Odude said the three main issues confronting the effectiveness and efficiency of the police are getting deserved attention through the state security trust fund. He listed the challenges to include, logistics, equipment and communication.

    “Oyo State Security Trust Fund has been very useful to us. Our challenges basically are in terms of logistics and equipment. For example, we have 57 divisions in the state and we don’t have enough vehicles to cover them. The ones we have have broken down and we try to keep them working as much as we can but of course, if we have more stable vehicles we will be able to work better than we do.

    “Another major challenge is communication. Policing is about communication because we want to know where a crime is happening instantly and you can quickly move and combat it before they start doing anything, once you hear on the radio that there is a robbery incident going on at a particular location. Even officers who have walkie-talkie can quickly move in there before they are given instructions.

    “Well as we speak, by the grace of God, they just handed over 10 vehicles to us which they have repaired from scratch. These are vehicles that have completely broken down which they repaired. These are the first set, immediately that is done, there is an approval already, they will take up another 10 to refurbish for us, and they have also promised brand new vehicles when resources are better,” he said.

    Responding, the Executive Secretary, OYSSTF, Mr. Femi Oyedipe, who was at the CPs office in company of other officials of the agency, said although the agency does not get any budgetary allocation from the state government, it is making sure that the goodwill and patronage gotten from individuals and corporate donors are devoted to supporting the security agencies in the state.

     

  • Oyo Police chief denies shooting female workers of IAR&T

    Oyo Police chief denies shooting female workers of IAR&T

    Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude, says his men were not responsible for shooting of two female members of staff of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training ( IAR&T ), Ibadan.

    Odude made the clarification in a telephone interview in Ibadan.

    The police chief spoke on the reports that policemen drafted to quell students’ protest at the Federal College of Agriculture ( FCA ), Apata, Ibadan, shot two workers of the institute.

    In his comments, Prof. James Adediran, the Executive Director of IAR&T, insisted that two members of staff of the institute were shot by the policemen drafted to quell the students protest at the college.

    “In the process of shooting, two personnel of IAR&T who have nothing to do neither with the students nor the college were shot with live bullets,’’ he said.

    Students of the College of Agriculture had on Monday morning staged a protest over the closure of their school.

    Protesting students blocked the gates to the IAR&T preventing vehicles and people from gaining access into the institute which shares the same premises with college.

    This, however, caused a gridlock on Ibadan-Abeokuta Road at Apata.

    “A woman was shot in the abdomen while a young lady, an intern with us, was shot in the thigh.

    “Two of them are lying critically ill at the Emergency Department of UCH, Ibadan,’’ Adediran said.

    Also, Odude said that the students blocked the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road during the protest, attacked vehicles and threw stones at the police.

    He said that four policemen were wounded as a result of the stones thrown at them by the students.

    “Police fired teargas to push the students to the extreme and were able to arrest some of the students that threw the stones.

    “There was no gun shot,’’ Odude insisted.

    NAN

  • One dead, others injured in Ibadan ‘Egungun’ festival violence

    One dead, others injured in Ibadan ‘Egungun’ festival violence

    The Oyo State Police Command on Monday  confirmed the death of one person in the violence  that trailed  the public outing of the Ege masquerade in Ibadan on Sunday.

    The police spokesman in the state, ASP Adekunle Ajisebutu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday that  two suspects were also  arrested  in  connection with the incident.

    NAN reports  that  violence had marred the Egungun festival  on Sunday as many residents were assaulted while properties were destroyed.

    The festival, which often featured  displays by  masquerades, is meant to showcase the rich culture and tradition of  Ibadanland.

    Ajisebutu, however, said that the command had  beefed up security in the area where the Egungun festival was taking place.

    He said the state Commissioner of  Police, Abiodun Odude, had  warned all  masquerades and their followers to refrain from  violence.

    The police, he said,  would not hesitate to deal with any individual  or group attempting to cause  a breach of  the peace..

    Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji,  has expressed displeasure with Sunday’s violence.

    He said several meetings were held with stakeholders on the need to keep the peace before the festival commenced.

    Adetunji,  who commiserated  with victims  of the violence and their families,  pledged  that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

  • Police arrest 16 suspected kidnappers, robbers in Oyo

    Police arrest 16 suspected kidnappers, robbers in Oyo

    The Oyo State Police Command has arrested 16 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers.

    The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Abiodun Odude, on Friday in Ibadan, said the suspects were responsible for the robberies in Akobo and other parts of the state.

    He said the suspects’ arrest followed the latest attack on Wisdom Estate, Akobo, Ibadan, at about 2:00 a.m. on June 3.

    Odude said the bandits attacked residents of the Estate and robbed victims of their valuable properties and cash.

    The police commissioner said: “During a raid carried out by the Idi-Aro Police Division, one of the suspects was arrested and some of the jewellery and mobile phones earlier snatched from victims during the robbery operation were recovered from him.

    “His arrest and subsequent confession led to the arrest of other members of the gang by operatives of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad of the command.

    “More stolen items were recovered from the suspects who confessed to have carried out several armed robbery operations in Egbeda, Olodo and other places in the state.”

    Odude said the suspects used machetes to maim and kill innocent victims.

    NAN

     

     

  • 26 burnt to death, 11 injured in Oyo auto crash

    Two commercial buses collided near the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday, killing 26 passengers.

    The dead passengers were burnt to death while 11 others were injured in the crash.

    The buses collided while trying to overtake from both sides of the road at the same time.

    It occurred at about 7:00 a.m. at a portion where there was diversion due to road reconstruction near a quarry site.

    The two vehicles, which were fully loaded, burst into flames on colliding with each other. The passengers were trapped in the buses.

    The victims were evacuated by a combined team of officers from the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The state commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, visited the scene of the accident.

    Confirming the accident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, said 26 people died in the accident while 11 others were injured.

    “The fatal motor accident occurred at about 7:00 a.m. on Saturday along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway by Quarry.

    “The two commercial buses involved had a head on collision and burst into flames. As a result, 26 people died while 11 others including three children were injured.

    “Corpses of the dead victims have been deposited at the Adeoyo General Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, for autopsy while the injured have been taken to Ibadan Central Hospital and UCH Ibadan for medical attention,” Ajisebutu said.