The residents of Ibasa Ijegun-Egba riverine community in Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have cried out over on invasion of the town by police from Zone 2 over unverified allegations of bunkering and malicious damage.
The community in a statement by its representative, Barrister Yakubu Eleto, said the police officers invaded the community on Friday arresting innocent residents on baseless allegations.
“At about 6.00.a.m in the morning, members of the Nigerian Police Force Zone 2 Command in company of armed thugs and some faceless persons invaded the community without informing the authorities and other important Members of the Community.
“They started arresting innocent indigenous people of the community without just cause, leading to many people being injured, hospitalized and some were chased into the Lagos state lagoon.
“However, upon thorough investigation by the HRM Oba Afeez Oriyomi Shittu, Adeyemi1, Arolo Agbojojoye Olu of Ibasa, Ijegun-Egba land and other royal members of the Community, It discovered that the illegal act was initiated and instigated by Aina Jagun Aturu, a customary tenant of Ibasa Ijegun Egba Community.
“This Aina Jagun Aturu group has submitted a frivolous and baseless petition to the Zone 2 Command of Nigeria Police with the intent of scattering and destroying the peace, amenities of the entire community.
“At moment, the Community is emptied and currently in state of agony due to the atrocities committed by the members of the police force in accompany with other thugs and faceless persons to invade community.
“The people of the community are presently perplexed, scared and seriously worried of their way of lives and believed that their lives are not saved due to the current saga that occurred earlier today.
“The entire people of the community are gradually vacating the community and running for their lives due to serious occurrence in the society.
“At the material time, we cannot ascertain the number of persons that jumped into the Lagos Lagoon and those that run away for their safety due to the horrible incident in the community,” he said.
He said that some members of the community arrested are detained at the zone 2 headquarters in Onikan till now.
Also, the Youth Chairman of Ibasa Ijegun-Egba youth Satellite Community, Comrade Kareem Idowu, said Aturu had written petitions against the community that they were involved in bunkering, malicious damage of his property and that youths in the area are threatening marketers with guns.
According to him, all these are lies and I expect the Police to do proper investigation before invading our communities.
“There was nothing like bunkering in our community because one can’t even go near the pipeline because of the presence of Naval personnel.
“The community was trying to rebuild the Ogun shrine to give it a befitting status during the coming festival and this belongs to us.
“Also no youths is carrying guns to market in Ijegun-Egba, we are law abiding citizen of Nigeria.
“The Police should have done the findings before invading our town, now many people have been arrested and detained till now.
“Again, we don’t understand while the Police should involved the land grabbers on this issues because many thugs have been tormenting the residents claiming that they have taken over our property in Ijegun-Egba.
“We don’t have rest of mind any longer, One Owoeye is going around in a viral video claiming that they had taken over Ijegun-Egba community land.
“We are lawful people and we have a paramount ruler installed by Lagos State Government.
“At present, nobody can go out or go to the market, this has really affected economic situation of the area.
“We are appealing to Lagos State Government to intervene and restore normalcy to our communities as we are now living in fear,” he said.
