2nd July, 2012
By Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Over 30 persons believed to be hoodlums were this morning arrested by the police in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria.
P.M.NEWS correspondent gathered that the police from Obalende Police Station in Ijebu Ode stormed the Lagos motor park with over five patrol vans and two buses after a tip off from some residents of the area.
It was gathered that the armedmen numbering about 35, barricaded the motor park and arrested the hoodlums who were taken in the buses to the police station.
The Chairman of the caretaker committee of the motor park, Mr. Rasheed Alatishe, a.k.a. Tishe told P.M.NEWS that the arrest was necessary because cultists and hoodlums who have no business in the park were about taking it over.
“The police came this morning with many vehicles and arrested some people. Those hoodlums who have no business in the park but have been extorting money illegally are the ones they arrested. Others have fled but the police are still around and I want to say that the days of the hoodlums are over in the park.”
A policeman who was in the team told our correspondent that there have been several petitions from some residents over fights in the park by some hoodlums which was always causing pandemonium in the area.
He said: “We were asked to come and effect some arrests in the motor park because of the presence of some hoodlums and cult boys who have no business in the park. Several letters have been written by some people living within the area that their lives are not safe.
“Also, we got information that several joints within the park where Indian hemp was being freely sold. We decided to come early this morning to arrest some of them. We will not relent until we flush the bad eggs out of the motor park.’’
Efforts to get the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Obalende to comment on the matter proved abortive as it was gathered that he had gone to Igbeba to brief the Area Commander on the matter, when P.M.NEWS called in his office this morning.
As at the time of filing this report, the police are still at the park to maintain law and order but many shops within the motor park are still shut.
One of the park caretaker officers said,” normalcy is gradually returning now, probably with the presence of the policemen. We heard that the boys are at Lafiaji and Italapo, strategising. Their trouble is too much. Only God can save us. What we heard was that they have the backings of some politicians, both elected and appointed ones.’’
He expressed the fear that those arrested may soon be released when they contact their godfathers.