Lagos State Commissioner of
Police, Imohimi Edgal, has ordered the destruction of a shrine located under
the Opebi link bridge in the Ikeja area of Lagos, allegedly belonging to
members of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC).
Edgal, who led Police detectives to the shrine said the operators
carry out trial on their victims and declare judgment against them, further stating
that going by the items found at the
shrine, some of the victims were most likely tortured in a bid to force them to
own up to the specific crime they are being tried for.
The commissioner informed the public that three people have been arrested
for their alleged involvement in activities in and around the shrine, while
three POS machines allegedly being used to extort money from victims were
recovered. Also found at the shrine were mobile phones and ATM cards belonging
to victims.
Addressing newsmen, Edgal said officials of the Lagos State Neighborhood
Security and Safety Corp (LSNSC) had informed the command of the suspicious
movement of people in and out of the shrine.
He said based on the strength of the information, he directed the
Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ikeja division to investigate the
matter.
“Based on the directive, a team of undercover policemen led by the
DPO mounted surveillance around the area. Yesterday (Monday) officials of the Neighborhood
Security Safety Corps saw a man who was being dragged into the shrine.
They were attracted to the place by the screaming, which they heard
coming from the victim. They quickly informed the DPO who moved his men to
the scene where three people were arrested, and the victim rescued.
“In as much as we believe in community policing and community
partnership, let me sound a note of warning to any group of persons who may
want to take laws into their hands that the command will deal decisively with
members of such groups.
“Members of OPC have been helpful to the command in the past. We
see them as partners, but as you can see, some group of persons under the guise
of OPC have erected an office under the Opebi link bridge where they take
people to try them by ordeal.
‘‘They also have a shrine here where I believe they force victims
to take oath. We will not tolerate this in any part of the state.
“Three persons have been arrested. One victim was freed. We are
investigating and all those behind this barbaric act will soon be rounded up.
When they are arrested they will be made to face the wrath of the law”. He
said.
The Guardian reports that several auto technicians who operate
under the Opebi link bridge said the operators arrest and tortured their
victims openly.
The CP also queried the rationale behind the move by the suspected
OPC members saying that nobody or group of persons is allowed by law to detain
a person or group of people.
“As a law-abiding citizen, you are only allowed to arrest and
after which the suspect is handed over to the police who have the
constitutional responsibility to investigate and after which charge the suspect
to court.
“What is POS machine doing inside their office. Investigation has
revealed that some robbers go about with POS machine. They make their victims
transfer money into their account at gunpoint.
Concluding, the Police Boss said ‘‘We are going to be thorough in
our investigation. We won’t allow any miscreant to run amok in Lagos. I
have also ordered that the shrine and the office be demolished.”
Credit: Guardian NG
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