OPC Kills Six In Abeokuta - As Police Arrest Four Robbers

Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta - 11.10.2008

Some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC), allegedly killed six people on Thursday night at Onikoko area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital following an outbreak of violence in the neighbourhood.

Saturday Tribune gathered from residents of the area that six people were shot dead by the OPC members who went away with five bodies while the body of one Adekunle Joseph Ogunseye, who was shot in the eye, was recovered by the residents.

One of the assailants was however, reported to have been arrested with a sophisticated weapon . It was learnt that an unidentified woman hired some OPC members to help her recover some unspecified sum of money from a neighbour which led to the violence.

An eye witness account told Saturday Tribune that the incident happened around 8.30pm on Thursday night, turning the whole area into a battle ground.The alleged leader of the gang was said to have been arrested while trying to “steal away” the body of the sixth person, and was later taken to the General Hospital, Ijaye for treatment following serious injuries he sustained.

Saturday Tribune learnt he was chained to his bed at the emergency unit of the hospital under the surveillance of unidentied men suspected to be police officers. Another version of the story claimed it was caused by the refusal of one of the yahoo boys, who just made a hit, to settle the local OPC guys.

When contacted, the State Co-ordinator of the OPC, Mr. Olu Fayemi, confirmed the incident, which he described as unfortunate saying that anybody found culpable should be brought to book.

His words, “We did not send anyone to do this. We are expected to ‘separate people’ (broker peace) if they are at loggerheads; not to take sides in a case like that.

“ I don’t have the power to arrest anyone but we will invite the police to look into the case and ensure that those who are found guilty are punished.”

In another development, four people suspected to be armed robbers, were on Friday arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command in Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State. The robbers, who were said to have been arrested by the Police Patrol Team around Folagbade Street, were caught with money running into several millions of naira.

The suspected armed robbers according to Saturday Tribune findings, were found in Mobile Police uniform and also in custody of sophisticated guns.They were said to have been arrested around 12.00pm on Thursday and whisked to the Divisional Police Office at Obalende.