..77 Yrs old , eight Others kept in custody by police
….house,market other properties destroyed last Saturday
…scores have fled the town.
….claims High Courts,Magistrate Courts under lock and key on Orders from above
Some aggrieved community Leaders in Agosasa Township in the Ipokia local government area of Ogun state,has sent a Save Our Soul,SOS message to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to rally powers that be in Ogun state especially Governor Dapo Abiodun to save them over what they described as continued repressions,Violence and intimidation been visited in their people by powerful non state actors.
According to the stakeholders ,two notable individuals,Akeem Adigun aka Socopao and the newly installed King, Azeez Akinpelu have with the use of thugs,policemen and soldiers been terrorizing the people in the area over the opposition of the later as king in the ancient Township.
As of the time of writting this report,a 77 Years old high Chief,Fadeyi Emmanuel Sunday Abogunrin and eight Others are spending their fifth day in detention.
Their arrest by Police last Saturday March 16, it was gathered followed a failed kidnapped attempt by agents of Adigun and some other non -state actors of Abogunrin ostensibly done to get his support for installed Iba Akinpelu.
They were allegedly arrested by the Divisional Police officers,DPO in- charge of Idi Iroko,Olaiya Martins and have been kept in custody since without any charge.
This they said have led to the breakdown of Law and order as Law abiding citizens have been forced to either leave the town in droves or toe the line of the two dominant personalties who they claimed have been using non state actors with the connivance of Law enforcement agents to visit repression on innocent citizens .
Newdawnngr.com sources revealed that matters got to a head in March 3rd while the indigenes of the town were conducting their Traditional OFE festival when they were dispersed by thugs, hired by Adigun, for daring to pass in front of the palace of the self imposed King,
Azeez Akinpelu,visited violence on the procession.
In the Melee that followed the resistance of the procession,several properties including cars, Stores,housed were destroyed while scores have started to leave the ancient town in droves.
The stakeholders were said to have sought the intervention of the state Governor,Prince Dapo Abiodun but failed to get reprieve from the trouble makers who were alleged to be working with Police.
In the petition,signed by one Obey Sulaiman for and on behalf of the stakeholders,draw the attention of the former President to support given the trouble makers by some security agents in collusion with the Police and the non challant attitude of the state government.
As we write,some unknown security forces have arrested many of the residents who they claimed are formenting trouble in opposition to the Oba Akinpelu.
Beside the two personalties,Others mentioned by the petitioners include Lamina Olabimtan,Ganiu Mufa,Rafiu Elele and Isiaka Aderounmu,a former Special assistant to Governor of the state,Dapo Abiodun.
In an Interview with Newdawnngr.com,the Police Public Relations SP Omolola Odutola said it is not true that the Police in the area is taken side in the Communal Crisis.
She said since the Communal Crisis is a civil matter ,the state Police Command is not involved and not taking sides.
Said she,”It is not true that the Police are being used by any of the groups in the state.
According to her,it is the job of the Police to maintain Law and order and hence “we have always remained neutral in the way we do things”.
Speaking further,she explained that since the town has an apointee of the state,Police cannot take sides and will remain so in order to guarrantee peace and stability in the town.
Below is the full text of the SOS letter sent to frmr President Obasanjo by the stakeholders:
Executive Brief for His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo GCFR*
SITUATION REPORT IN AGOSASA TOWNSHIP, IPOKIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE OF NIGERIA, AS AT 11TH MARCH, 2024
Your Excellency Sir, on Sunday, the 3rd March, 2024, the people of Agosasa Township were carrying out the traditional rites of “OFE”. The procession passed in front of the self-imposed King, by name Azeez Akinpelu installed by Otunba Akeem Adigun also known as SOCOPAO. The guys or boys mounted in the frontage of the palace of Azeez Akinpelu challenged the procession by throwing bottles in their midst. The procession which mainly comprised the youths of the town, retaliated. This resulted in a free for all fights. It was chaotic. People were matcheted and properties were destroyed. A woman by name Alhaja Sururah Orisadare was attacked in the front of her house, her properties and good were equally destroyed. The woman is still presently under intensive care unit at the hospital.
Akeem Adigun Socopao influenced the deployment of soldiers of the Nigerian Army who brought armour tank into the town. Police also came into the town of Agosasa in very large numbers. Many people living in the town irrespective of their participation in the mayhem were arrested and taken to Eleweran and unknown places. As at Tuesday, the 5th March, 2024, over forty people had been arrested and taken to Eleweran. Also, the O.P.C as well as cult members of “Notorious Eiye and Black Axe Cult” were equally deployed in to the town to attack and arrest people irrespective of whether they participated in the fight or not.
On Wednesday, the 6th March, 2024, it was Agosasa market day. Azeez Akinpelu along side with police, soldiers, O.P.C and cult members stormed the market square. They destroyed goods worth millions, looted goods and chased away the market people. People started running helter skelter, the market men and women had to abandon the goods and ran for their dear lives. Azeez Akinpelu promised to close up the markets for the next three months with no consequences.
There is fear of being arrested, detained and prosecuted in the heart of every man in Agosasa township, to this end, eighty percent (80%) of the people living in the town had fled for fear of being arrested by the Akeem Adigun Socopao led security agents. The town of Agosasa is presently desolate. Many wives and children could not see their husbands and father because of the fear of being arrested by the men deployed by Akeem Adigun Socopao. As at 9th March, 2024, over one hundred people has been arrested, harassed, dehumanized and detained at the dictate of Akeem Adigun Socopao and his self imposed king on the people of Agosasa.
Akeem Adigun Socopao and Azeez Akinpelu are confident in their brazen entrapment of the fundamental right of the citizens of Nigeria residing in Agosasa town because they believe they have the backing or support of Senator Adeola a.k.a Yayi and other top political figures. Akeem Adigun Socopao believes he is untouchable and whatever he does cannot be challenged by the people of Agosasa or any authority because he believes he has wealth and right connections.
77 Years Old,Fadeyi Emmanuel Sunday Abogunrin…spending his sixth day in detention on Orders of non state actors
Earlier in the month of September, 2023, before Akeem Adigun imposed the “Oba” on the people of Agosasa, he met a stiff opposition. The opposition in the town was led by one late Amosun Nafiu popularly known as “Marine”. The said Amosun Nafiu was shot dead by Akeem Adigun Socopao in broad day light as he fled for his life. The people of Agosasa protested and two more people were killed by Akeem Adigun Socopao and his supporters. Up to this moment, the bodies of the other two men could not be recovered. In the course of the mayhem, many properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
After much delay, Akeem Adigun was charged before the High Court, Ipokia for the offence of murder of Amosun Nafiu a.k.a Marine. To the utmost astonishment of the court and that of everybody present in the court on the day of his arraignment, Akeem Adigun Socopao did not show up in court. The court was filled to the brim by the people of Agosasa and neighbouring towns. The next surprise the people of Ipokia witnessed was the closure of the High Court and the Magistrate Court in Ipokia. The closure of the courts seemingly marked the end of the criminal charge levelled against Akeem Adigun Socopao. Up till the time of writing this report, the High and Magistrate Courts in Ipokia Judicial Division are under locks and keys.
It would seem that Akeem Adigun Socopao has successfully pocketed the judiciary, security outfit in his unholy crimes against the people of Agosasa. He is still very much active, wiling and continuously tormenting the lives of the people of Agosasa by indiscriminately effecting their arrests in the middle of the night, for no just cause.
The indigenes of Agosasa arrested as at 4th March, 2024 are still in custody of the police at several police stations and more people are still being arrested. the watch of the security personnel to be arrested. Many men had to flee their homes due to the fear of being arrested by the security men put in town by Akeem Adigun Socopao.
We have sent emissaries to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun to please come to the aid of the people of Agosasa, yet the impunity is festering. The oppressions, suppressions, intimidation and inhumane conducts melted on the voiceless people of Agosasa by Akeem Adigun a.k.a SOCOPAO and his self imposed “Oba” Azeez Akinpelu and the security men who carry out this nefarious activities is unbecoming in a civil society.
Therefore, in view of the grace of God on your life, and the fact of the positions you have occupied in Nigeria and in the world place and the profound roles you have been playing in settling and resolving disputes all over the world, we hereby pray that you intervene in this matter urgently. The involvement of the Nigerian Army has worsened our situation as people are fleeing the town and all commercial activities grounded. Sir, please use all your God given powers to bring this old wahala to an end as you have always done. Thank you so much Sir.
Signed
Obey Sulaiman for and on behalf of
CONCERNED CITIZENS OF AGOSASA
or and on behalf of
ELDER….
Alhaji…..
Etc.of Agosasa
LONG LIVE OGUN STATE OF NIGERIA
LONG LIVE IPOKIA LOCAL GOVRNMENT OF NIGERIA
LONG LIVE AGOSASA LAND.
Save us from the oppressors of the land,they are wealthy so they think they can do anything and no one will question them,no one is above the law,things are happening in agosasa please save us.