It should be security forces urging residents to live peacefully in the community. However, recent developments in the Nigerian police force, particularly in Agege, Axis of Abule Egba in Lagos State, have given the force such a bad reputation that residents appear to be looking elsewhere for the safety of their lives and property.
A P.M EXPRESS‘ report revealed how in the early hours of Saturday April 15, 2023. the police are said to have conducted an operation to search the criminals’ hideout at Musili Street, Oko Oba, Agege, but it ended in an operation, which spelled the end of the life of a young man, James Olakunle, 30, who was allegedly murdered in cold blood with the help of Nigerian police.
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Residents who spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity fearing harassment, revealed it was a complete lie to claim Saturday morning’s raid was designed to catch criminals.
“The Nigerian police are full of liars and scammers, especially when they prefer to cover up atrocities committed against people. Our neighborhood has never been a hiding place for criminals, said one resident who confided in P.M EXPRESS
Another source, who is a neighborhood owner was disappointed when he accused the police of complicity in Olakunle’s death.
“What the police did was an extrajudicial execution that cannot be concealed. The boy was innocent. This is a death that shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
The investigation revealed that five police officers with an unnumbered car came to the street like a commando and broke into the house where the man once lived without a search warrant, dragged Olakunle out and pushed him away.
“Unfortunately, the following day (Sunday) the body of a young man was found in a canal inside the community. The attackers dismembered parts of his body, making the killing look like a ritual killing.
Further investigation revealed that police may have acted on information from a local politician who viewed the late Olakunle as a threat.
One of the residents trusted P.M. EXPRESS expressed that this young man’s death was intended to be a politically motivated murder with the help of the police.
In the next part of his statement, the local resident said: “As a journalist, you know very well what is happening in this area. Your father and family were very close to us here, and you know what I mean: politicians, with the helpful help of the police, contributed to the death of this man.
“How will you agree that the police got here to raid a hideout on Musili Street, and they whisked away solely one man who was later discovered dead. This doesn’t add up at all.
“The politician I spoke of came into the area a few weeks ago and threatened to take action against Olakunle for interfering in a political issue he was too young for. He said Olakunle wanted to be eaten by the same political pot.
“A few days later, the policemen came to Olakunle under the pretense that they were there to break into the criminals’ hideout. The boy’s body was found a few hours later. Can’t you see cover-up and complicity,” the resident said.
The policemen were reported to have threatened the report to back off the investigation.
“What do you want to get lost if Olakunle loses his life? Don’t write anything that might cause you trouble. A word is enough for the wise,” threatened one of the officers at the police station.
*The story was originally published by P.M. EXPRESS
