OGUN: Rampaging hoodlums invade police station, free suspects, destroy property

A group of rampaging youths reportedly numbering up to 200, Sunday, stormed the Ojodu Abiodun Police Station located in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State freeing detained suspects and destroyed valuable property.

The youths who invaded the police station around 1pm in retaliation for the shooting of a young man Dada Omotoye who died after policemen raided a black spot in the Yakoyo area on Saturday, also carted away other valuables property including seized motorcycles and television sets.

A policeman who witnessed the incident said they were caught unawares as only a few cops were around when the hoodlums invaded the police station.

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The policeman said; “We were caught unawares. It was only the S.O. (Station Officer), one or two policemen and me that were at the station when they (the hoodlums) came. They were about 200.

“They entered my office and removed my TV set. They went to other offices and stole TV sets. They carted away some seized motorcycles on the premises. Their intention was to burn the station, but we were able to disperse them.”

Confirming the incident, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, said those involved in the attack would be tracked down by the police.

The PPRO said, “There is a black spot in that area, where hoodlums smoke Indian hemp and carry out all sorts of unlawful activities. There have been complaints from residents of the area. That was why the police went to raid the place. It was a raid, involving men from other divisions around the Ojodu Abiodun division, aimed at flushing out those hoodlums.

“In the process, the hoodlums attacked the policemen, throwing bottles and attacking them with cutlasses. A bullet ricocheted and hit somebody while the policemen were firing to scare the hoodlums away. The man sustained a minor injury and was taken to a hospital. He is responding to treatment. He is not among the hoodlums.

“Today (Sunday), the hoodlums moblised themselves and attacked the station. They damaged the station and stole some property. We have identified those behind that dastardly act and we will get them arrested. We will use them as a lesson to those who have the habit of attacking stations. It is an affront on the security agents and they will face the full wrath of the law. If any policeman errs, we have internal mechanism of dealing with them.”

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