Operatives of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested 10 suspected members of the Aiye confraternity in Sagamu, Ogun State, while allegedly plotting to unleash mayhem ahead of the just-concluded bye-election into the Federal constituency in the state.
Reports said the suspects converged in a popular hotel at Sagamu last Friday preparatory to strike the next day while the election will be in progress when information got to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, while he was on patrol in the area.
He reportedly mobilised a crack team of detectives attached to the Dragon Unit of the Zone and gave them matching orders to round up all those suspected to be involved in the criminal plan.It was learnt that when the team of policemen arrived at the hotel, they succeeded in subduing the suspects when they attempted to run away from the scene.
Police sources said they suspect they were taken to Zone 2, in Onikan, Lagos, where, on interrogation, they confessed that they were brought from different areas in Lagos State by a serving member of the Ogun State House of Assembly (names withheld) to disrupt Saturday’s election in Ogun State.According to the suspects, the honourable member also promised to pay them handsomely if they succeeded in ‘scattering everything’ during the election.
It was gathered that they also confessed that the top politician in the state assured them that they would be armed with sophisticated weapons to carry out the operation.
The suspects reportedly lamented that the police ‘messed up an operation that would have given them money’, stating that the police carried out a very commendable operation for them to have been able to arrest them.
The suspects include Habeeb Mohammed of number 15, Abule-Egba, Lagos; Olaniyi Okesola of number 9, Oke-Odo, Pipeline, Abule-Egba, Lagos; Azeez Idowu, of number 26, Olaniyi Street, Abule-Egba, Lagos; Rasaki Taiwo, of number 21, Babawo Street, Sango Ota, Ogun; Waheed Olugoroye, of number 15, Oyewole Street, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos; Godwin Abode, of number 7, Oja Agbado Crossing, Ogun; Ayobami Damilare, of number 2, Araromi Street, Sango Ota, Ogun; Folarin Kabiru, of number 3, Araromi Street, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos; Ojelade Tobi, of number 1, Ifelodun, Sango Ota, Ogun; and Olanrewaju Sanni, of number 17, Jimoh Ibrahim Close, Agbado Oja, Ogun State.
Police sources further revealed that the suspects were holding a strategy session when they were rounded up. They have since been handed over to the Ogun State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
Confirming the arrest, AIG Fayoade said, “This breakthrough is a clear message to those who believe they can use thugs, cultists or hired hands to intimidate voters during elections. The Nigeria Police under my watch will not tolerate violence or lawlessness. We will deal decisively with anyone, no matter how highly placed, who attempts to disrupt the peace.”
