There was a drama at
Sonde Apon, a rural community in Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State,
last Saturday. This followed a protest by old women over the invasion of
their community by hoodlums suspected to have been sent by land
speculators from a nearby community. The invaders numbering 20 were said
to have stormed the community and unleashed terror on the residents.
Daily Sun learnt that the attackers stormed the community with
machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons at about 11.30 am when many
of the residents had already gone to work, shot sporadically, broke into
houses and carted away some valuables. The aggrieved women, who were
half naked, sang sorrowful songs and expressed disgust over the attack,
describing it as one of the worst things that had happened to them,
noting that it was the third time in last three years.
They expressed surprise that the hoodlums broke into their
houses. One of the women, Chief (Mrs.) Mopelola Losede, Iyalaje of Sonde
Apon, narrated: "The invaders stormed the community with guns, machetes
and other dangerous weapons, shot sporadically and broke into our
houses and collected our money, food items and other things.
They also attacked one of our children and inflicted serious
injuries on him. "Why is it that the same people are always attacking
our community?
The other time, they attacked us and we petitioned the Inspector
General of Police for actions to be taken against them and nothing was
done. Now they are at it again. How long should we continue to live in
fear because of people, who are fighting to take our land by force? In
fact, our lives are not safe. Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the police
should come to save us, before the worst will happen." Seriki of Sonde,
Chief Olusegun Odefeinwa: "These people have always been coming to
unleash terror on us. Their intention is to wipe us out and take over
our land, which is not so easy to do.
They came and started to break our houses, looking for whom to
kill. As many of us have gone to work, they descended on our women. And
when we heard that, we decided not to come home because the attack would
have been deadlier. In fact, I returned after three days of running for
safety and before then, they had already damaged our houses and carted
away cash, food items and other materials."
Balogun of Sonde, Chief Gabriel Ogunsola: "When the attack was
on, our youths were able to apprehend some of them. So, some other
people and I went to report the matter at Agbado Police Station and the
DPO sent some policemen to our village. They were arrested and brought
to the police station. "We were the ones that went to report the matter.
But, we were surprised that the matter was later changed and
those arrested claimed that we were the ones that attacked their
community. When the matter got to the Area Police Command at Sango, he
ordered that I and other members of the community that went to report
the matter should be detained. It did not end there, after granting us
bail, he sent some armed policemen to raid our community and some other
members of the community were arrested and taken to Zone 2 police
headquarters Onikan, Lagos.
Why is it that the case we reported at the police station was
later turned against us? Does it not show that there is foul play
somewhere?" Baale of Sonde Apon, Chief Wasiu Ogunsola who was reportedly
to be wanted by the police in connection with the incident said there
was never a time the police declared him wanted: "I was shocked to have
read in the newspapers that I am declared wanted by the police in
connection with the incident. I am using this medium to tell the whole
world that the police did not declare me wanted.
I travelled before the incident and when my Council of Chiefs
called and informed me what happened, I advised them not to fight back
but should report to the police which they did. "We were the ones that
went to call the police that we apprehended some hoodlums, and they
followed us to effect the arrest. Now, they have changed the hoodlums
that attacked our community to kidnap victims and accused me to have
masterminding the attack on some workers at Ayegbe. In fact, it is not
fair."
Ogunsola also refuted the statement by an Ayegbe leader that the
parties involved in a land dispute signed a memorandum of understanding
that the proceeds from the sales of about 287 acres of land would be
shared: "There was no time such agreement reached. The power of attorney
given to me on the said issue remains and has not been revoked. Anyone
trying to encroach in our community land is a trouble shooter and
greedy."
Credit: The Sun
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