- As missing 12-year-old boy found dead, eyes plucked out, wrists cut in Ogun
Protests on Wednesday rocked Awka, the Anambra State capital as some indigenes protested against what they tagged worrisome spate of cult-related killings in the town.
The protesters, who came from Ezinano, Umuokpu, Eziawka, Amikwo and Agulawka villages, called for the immediate removal of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Akin Fakorode, of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), and Inspector Monday Umana, also of the department, for alleged complicity.
They also accused the officers of destabilising a local security outfit, known as “Blue Shed”, established to get rid of criminalities in the city in their selfish interest.
Chief Richard Onurah, who spoke for the group, said they were protesting to draw the attention of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, and the general public to the alleged atrocities of above-named officers.
Onuorah said the protest was against the incessant killings and other waves of crimes in Awka.
According to him, the elders and leaders of the protesters, comprising 20 villages which form Awka capital, alleged that most of the unholy activities in the town are being aided by the two officers, an allegation dismissed outrightly by the police authorities.
“We are tired of burying our children. We want peace in our town. We are helpless, the Police authority should come to our rescue,” Onuorah said.
In a reaction, CP Adeoye said the protest was sponsored and designed to blackmail the force. Adding that the sponsor was facing two court trials and was doing all he could to evade trial, Adeoye said Nigerians had freedom to peaceful protest but the command would ensure that the issues are treated.
“It was a sponsored protest by the owner of Blue Shield Security outfit, who is facing trial in two courts, so their action is diversionary.
“We shall not succumb to blackmail, we respect people’s right to peaceful protest but justice must be done,” he said.
In the meantime, the mutilated body of a missing 12-year-old boy, John Soyinka, was on Monday found in a bush at Kotogbo community in Asero Estate, Abeokuta.
Soyinka was declared missing a week ago and the matter was reported at the Obantoko Police Station in Abeokuta.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun Command, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the discovery of the dead body to newsmen on Wednesday in Abeokuta.
Odutola said that the gruesome murder of Soyinka, whose eyes were plucked out and wrists cut off, had changed the case to a homicide.
She said that the body had been released to the family for burial, adding that investigation was ongoing to unravel perpetrators of the crime
A resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the boy disappeared after he went to see a customer who had done a transaction at a POS shop where the deceased assisted.
“I know the boy very well. He is about 12-years-old and lived with his mother, who I guess is no longer with her husband.
“His mother does menial jobs like helping people to sweep.
“What we heard was that, last week Thursday, he informed people he wanted to check on a customer who had done POS transaction, apparently may be there was something to sort out about the transaction, but the boy never came back.
“The boy and his mother lived at Olasunkanmi community and so the Community Development Association reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer at Obantoko Station.
“The DPO informed the police at Adigbe and Lafenwa, but it was the boy’s corpse that was seen at Kotogbo community, just beside Olasunkanmi on Monday.
“The two communities are inside Asero Estate, Abeokuta. It is suspected to be a case of ritual killing because the boy’s eyes were removed while his wrists were also cut off,” he said.
Stories from The Conclave/Freedomonline
