OYO: Why we arrested OPC members — Police

POLICE in the state have confirmed and explained why they arrested three members of the Oodua People’s Congress who were  part of the team that arrested notorious Fulani warlord, Iskilu Wakili, on Sunday morning.

This is coming hours after the OPC sector coordinator in Ibarapa area, Adedeji Oluwole, expressed disappointment that three OPC operatives were detained for allegedly arresting notorious Wakili, who had been accused of rape, kidnapping and allied crimes in the Ayete area of Ibarapaland in the state.

He said this happened despite the bloodless and “harmless” arrest of Wakili

Adedeji had said, ““Nobody touched Wakili, nobody hurt him, there are no traces of any hurt on him. He is an old man and we had promised the whole world that we won’t hurt them but we would arrest them for the whole world to see who is Wakili because all these while, he has been a faceless person, nobody knows him. We didn’t beat him or harm him. When we nabbed him, we put him inside a vehicle and handed him over to the police.”

But reacting to the development in a statement issued, last night, the police  stated that people who engage in criminal activities in the state would not be spared.

The statement titled, “Oyo police assures of diligent prosecution of suspected criminals’ was signed by the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Fadeyi Olugbenga,

Police said the three OPC members were detained for alleged murder and arson.

They alleged that one person died in the process of arresting Wakili, adding that the warlord’s house was also set ablaze.

Part of the statement read, “The State Commissioner of Police has quickly moved into action and preliminary findings revealed that some OPC members went to Kajola community in Ibarapa North Local government Area of Oyo State.

“While there, the house of the Wakili in question was set ablaze, while a female (the identity of who is yet to be ascertained) was burnt in the fire and Wakili (about 75 years old and blind) with two other persons were picked up.

“The three of them are presently in the custody of the Police. The Commissioner of Police has directed that Wakili (due to his frail appearance and state of health), be moved to the Hospital, while others are being interrogated. Others being interrogated are the OPC members, involved in arson and murder.

“Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that any person or group of persons from any region or tribe that has been found culpable to have committed any criminal act (s) in the State would not be spared, but would be arrested and dealt with according to extant laws.

“Therefore, it is worthy of note that the good people of Oyo State and the general public should rest assured that the officers and men in the Command would not derelict in its duty to bring to book criminal elements arrested for any infringement on the laws of the land, as adequate security measures have been emplaced against anything untoward while soliciting credible information from members of the public to enable the Police and other Security Agencies clampdown on crime and criminality in the State.”