The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed investigating a plot by alleged landgrabbers seeking to remove an illegal possession of arms charge following the recent arrest of some cultists in Ginti town, Ijede, Ikorodu to bribe the State Police Commissioner, Fayoade Mustapha.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin made this known in a private chat with Adamimogo 93.1FM.
His statement came on the heels of an allegation by the Head of Banjoko Ogidi Family of Ginti Community in Ijede LCDA, Ikorodu, Alh Moruf Olowosago that the alleged landgrabber also known as the Regent of Oke-Eletu, Nafiu Abiodun and his associate, Meyaki Ibrahim were secretly recorded discussing plans to pay off the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and Head of the CP tactical squad, Area N and H, Adamo, CSP Godfrey Soliwei in a bid to save themselves and remove illegal arms charge from the case of some arrested cult boys linked to them.
In a recorded phone call obtained by Olowosago and heard by Adamimogo FM, Nafiu and an unnamed person are heard “plotting to provide five million naira to the Commissioner and one million to CSP Godfrey.”
“Their objective is to get themselves removed from the case, all charges against Nafiu’s arrested boys dropped, evidence tampered with, and the men released back onto the streets, which ultimately puts the lives of this entire community at risk,” Olowosago said.
Giving details of atrocities committed by the suspected cultists and landgrabbers, the family head said, “For years, Nafiu and his boys have terrorized our community, they shoot during the day, rape and assault anybody who’s against what they’re doing, forcefully grabbing land and have turned this community into a cultist camp.”
He added, “He has filled out community with cultists and they’ve been attacking our people who have to go out very early and return late at night to avoid attacks by Nafiu’s cult boys.”
Sharing photos of previous attacks, Olowosago said Nafiu had been using thugs to intimidate the Banjoko Ogidi family and forcibly take control of lands rightfully belonging to the community since 2017.
The Head of the Banjoko Ogidi family subsequently accused the police of a lackluster response to their calls for security.
“We have been reporting to Police Formations in Area N and Ijede Police Station but they would not even come because they’re under his (Nafiu) payroll,” he said.
Despite multiple police reports filed by the family, there was no immediate response, prompting the family to obtain the services of the local vigilante group, Agbekoyas.
Olowosago, however noted that a S.W.A.T team from Abuja had arrested one person in possession of a gun.
He noted that it was only after a recent raid by CSP Geoffrey’s task force unit uncovered weapons and arrested four of Abiodun’s boys that the landgrabber allegedly became desperate.
Outlining the names of the suspects, members of the family noted that “if Balogun Tola alias 50cent, Tunde Oladipupo, Rasaq Ridwan, Abimbola Ara are released, our family would be in danger.”
Revealing allegations of police complicity, Head of the Banjoko Ogidi family said the community has filed several complaints over the years with no results, while those aiding Nafiu like one Officer Oba Marcus are also involved in the land grabbing vice.
“If you listen to the call, you’ll hear Nafiu Abiodun admitting to giving officer Marcus a piece of land,” Olowosago said.
The Banjoko Ogidi family are now pleading with the Lagos State Government and the Inspector General of Police to guarantee the safety and justice of members of the family and residents of the Ginti community.
Reacting, the Lagos State Police Spokesman , Hundeyin indeed confirmed that the Police arrested the suspected cultists and were investigating their links to the land grabbing case.
