We killed five people after a political rally ─ Suspect

 

The police in Lagos have nabbed three suspected political thugs, who confessed to have shot five persons dead after a political rally at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, during the last general elections.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects ─ Adebayo Dipo, Alade Ogbulu and a Ghanaian, Kofi Olumede ─ were arrested by the Commissioner of Police’s Crack Squad on the Lagos Island.

It will be recalled that four people, including a chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Azeez Ashake, lost their lives on Sunday, September 21, 2014, after a fatal clash between thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

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It was learnt that the three suspects were, however, arrested during a raid on the Lagos Island area in May 2015, by the squad.

Our correspondent gathered that one pump-action rifle, one single-barrelled rifle, four rounds of cartridges, two cutlasses and one axe were recovered from the trio after their arrest.

The police said the suspects, who claimed to be working for one Rafiu Abija, presently at large, have confessed to banditry and killings on the Lagos Island.

The police added that efforts were on to apprehend Abija, said to be the ring leader of the gang known as the Abija Group.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, 21-year-old Olumede, who said he travelled from Ghana to Lagos in 2007, said it was the APC thugs who engaged them in a fight during which they responded and killed the five persons.

He said, “We belong to the Abija Group. If we count those who have been killed, they are about six.

“After a political rally in Lagos, some of our boys shot dead Otun, who brought his boys to engage us in a fight. It was one Layi, our gang member, who shot him.

“On the following day, the APC faction came to Enuwa area to engage us. We killed four of their members.

“We are loyal to Abija. It was Abija who brought all these guns. Abija had so many boys. I was a meat pie seller before I joined the group on the Lagos Island.”

Dipo, 30, from the Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, however, denied that the gang killed five persons after the rally.

He said, “It was only Ashake that we killed. The others died during clashes with our gang. We also lost some of our members during the clashes.”

The CP, Kayode Aderanti, advised the general public to always provide the police with credible information to enable them to raid dark spots in the state.

He said, “They have confessed to be members of the Abija Group that has been terrorising the Island area. We appeal to members of the public to cooperate with the police to ensure safety.”