ABOUT a year ago, the Soka community in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, was thrown into confusion and disbelief as mutilated corpses, mentally challenged and malnourished persons were found co-existing in an environment totally unbefitting of human beings. Many individuals, who witnessed the dreaded sight last year, were shocked beyond words. However, a witness to the ugly sight last year one would marvel at the level of transformation that has since taken place.
The discovery of mutilated bodies and near-dead human beings in the forest had sent jitters down the spines of Nigerians, while the incident made the headlines for most of last year. The more than 30 malnourished persons tied to stakes and hovering between life and death at the site littered with dead bodies, human skulls, limbs and other body parts, were said to be victims of a deadly ring.
The evil deeds at the forest were said to have come to light after a team of commercial motorcycle riders went in search of two of their members, who had taken passengers to the area but never returned home. Visitors to the site were shocked to the marrow at the sheer bestiality that was going on at the forest.
However, the public outrage triggered by the discovery subsided with assurances from the Oyo State Government and the security agencies that the culprits would be found and the forest would be transformed into an ultra-modern settlement within a short time.
A traditional leader in the community, Alhaji Isiaka Bello, told our correspondent that since the government had cleared the forest and transformed it to a school facility, the people of the area had been living without the fear and trauma caused by the ugly discovery.
Bello said: “When the incident happened, I felt very bad. It was heart-rending. The governor came here and wondered why we never knew that such evil was going on in our community. Sincerely, we used to pass the road that runs through the forest to Macmillan, but we never knew that such evil was going on.
“Some Fulani herdsmen were always there with their cattle. It is very unfortunate that they did not also see what was going on there. The victims were not mad people as some people claimed.”
The community leader believes that the people of the area would benefit from the structures being erected by the government at the site. He said: “The facilities that are being built are a very good development. Now, we have an additional education centre in the community. We want the governor to construct the bridge linking Idi-Mangoro to the school. This bridge has been abandoned for many years.”
A resident of the community, Mr Tope Ayanbolu, said: “You can see that buildings are springing up and the owners of the other areas in the forest have started building hostels and other apartments that they can rent out to individuals or use as guest houses. All the bush in the area has been cleared. I believe that with what government is doing here now, such ugly incidents will never happen in this area again.”
He urged the security agencies to be on the alert in the community in order to avoid a reoccurrence of the incident.
Apart from model schools, other structures erected by the government to transform Soka into an ultra-modern community include parks and a community health centre. A visit by our correspondent revealed that private buildings were also being erected, while some others had been completed.
One of the construction workers, who were seen putting finishing touches to the model school, spoke on condition of anonymity, saying that the government had converted the place into a model secondary school. He said the government had given March ending as deadline for the completion of the project.
He added: “We are only contractors here. But we learnt that the building will be used as a school whose features will include classrooms, laboratories, a library, an administrative block and staff rooms, among others.
“This area was once known as the evil forest where they kept kidnapped victims and where ritual killers came to buy human parts. But the government has changed the face of the area. When this school is completed by the end of this month, it will be one of the best in the country.”
Commenting on how the incident had raised the value of properties in the area, an estate developer, Alhaji Bashiru Akande, said: “When the evil deeds in Soka were discovered, many landlords in the area sold their houses, while many tenants relocated. The effect of this was a slump in the value of properties in the area as many people were not ready to live in that community again. Now, things are getting back to shape because of the transformation that has taken place.”
While Soka forest is wearing a new look, the police are keeping sealed lips over the arrest of persons behind the dastardly acts a year ago.
Asked to comment on the result of police investigation so far, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Ade Ajisebutu, declined, saying: “I am a new PPRO in Oyo State. I was not around when Soka Forest was discovered; so, I cannot give you any information on it. You went there and saw for yourself.
“But what I can tell you is that such an ugly incident will not happen again in Oyo State as we have taken proactive measures to nip such crime in the bud. We have engaged in constant visibility policing, constant patrol of the nooks and crannies of the state to prevent such occurrence.
“We have also engaged in community policing, where we meet with community leaders, youths and other residents of the state to solicit their full cooperation.
“We will make use of our intelligence gathering from the streets; and the Oyo State Police Command is working with the vigilance group at all levels in information gathering and sharing in tandem with the principle of community policing.”
