The Obaago Community in Igboho, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, has blasted the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), for trying to blackmail the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal, by linking him with the arrest of two individuals facing prosecution over the killing of Pa Jimoh alias Baba Odo Owo and his son, Wasiu Idowu Jimoh.
The community branded the human rights group as thoughtless and ridiculous for attempting to read politics into the arrest and detention of Kazeem Rasheed alias Olofin and Ismail Jamiyu, who allegedly killed a father and son in an attack on Odo Owo Village, Obaago, Igboho on March 28, 2024.
Chairman of Obaago Community, Prince Imran Olateju Oyewole, who signed the statement on behalf of the community, accused the ‘human rights group’ of not doing its research well before advocating for bail for suspected killers, saying that Barr. Lawal has nothing to do with the matter.
The Obaago Community also called on the Oyo State Judiciary to remain unfettered in dispensing justice without fear or favour, adding that the Judge in charge of the matter should not yield to cheap blackmail to make a fundamental error of granting bail to the murder suspects.
The statement equally called on Engr. Olaniyan to disown the report by CHRSJ or risk being identified as an associate of Kazeem Rasheed Olofin and Ismail Jamiu, who are facing murder charges.
The statement read: “We read a piece of falsehood published by the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), under the headline: “How Oyo Deputy Governor Implicates 2 APC Chieftains In Phanthom Murder Charge Over Politics – CHRSJ.
“In that piece, the CHRSJ tried to blackmail the Oyo State Deputy Governor and the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mr Ayodele Sonubi over the arrest and incarceration of Kazeem Rasheed alias Olofin and Ismail Jamiu.
“We will set the records straight; Kazeem Rasheed Olofin, Ismail Jamiu and others still at large are suspected killers and the arrest of the duo and their detention are lawful and in the interest of justice.
“The Deputy Governor of Oyo State had nothing to do with the matter and the arrest and detention also have nothing to do with politics as it was painted by CHSRJ; it is about the killing of an old man and his 37-year-old son. So, why would any sane person call for the release of suspected killers in the name of politics?
“The hoodlums, Kazeem Rasheed Olofin, Ismail Jamiu and others still at large had, on March 28, 2024, attacked and killed Pa Jimoh and his son at Odo Owo Village, Obaago, Igboho.
“The hoodlums from Modeke Quarters, Igboho, had been trespassing lands belonging to the Alepata Family, claiming that the lands belonged to the Ona Onibode. These lands include Olose, Odo-Owo, Budo Iyawara, Aba Sango, Budo Baba Oyo, Aboniayo, Budo Aafa and Akeke villages.
“They claimed to have taken over the lands, allegedly on the orders of Ona Onibode. But the Alepata and paramount ruler of Igboholand, Oba Dr. Joel Olawuwo, being a peace-lover, wrote a petition to the Oyo State Police Command and the Deputy Governor of Oyo State as chairman of the Oyo State Boundary Commission, stating the position that the land rightfully belonged to the Alepata Family.
“Upon the killing of our people, the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba Dr Joel Olawuwo also reported to the police and the Deputy Governor.
“In his capacity as chairman of the Oyo State Boundary Commission and also the Chief Security Officer of the state at the period (since Governor Makinde was out of town), the Oyo State Deputy Governor invited the then chairman of Oorelope Local Government, Igboho, Hon. Akeem Adepoju Raheem; the Alepata; Ona Onibode Rasheed Jayeola; Kazeem Rasheed Olofin; Prince Kehinde Oyeyiola and other actors with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
“At the meeting held in his office, Barr. Lawal called for calm and tried to seek for an amicable settlement. He warned all parties to desist from acts of violence.
“But how could there be an amicable solution when two people had already been killed by Kazeem Olofin and his gang and the trespass on Obaago’s lands continued unabated? How could there be an amicable settlement when Kazeem Olofin and his boys, who had once resisted arrest in Igboho and assaulted police officers, were in Ibadan, where the police had been alerted about his presence in his Ibadan?
“How could there be an amicable settlement without justice for Pa Jimoh and Wasiu who were killed by Olofin and his boys?
“After the meeting with the Deputy Governor ended and Kazeem Rasheed Olofin left the Oyo State Secretariat, the police, which had set up mechanisms to arrest him, successfully apprehended Kazeem Rasheed Olofin.
“We appreciate the Oyo State Police Command for securing the arrest of Kazeem Olofin and we want to place it on the record that Ismail Jamiu was not at the meeting with Barr. Lawal, so the claim by CHSRJ was false. Ismail Jamiu was arrested in Igboho some weeks after the arrest of Kazeem Olofin.
“At what point did any of the issues above concern PDP, APC or Engr. Olaniyan?
“We would like to inform the new Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Adenola to calmly study the case file and expedite action on ensuring the arrest of other associates of Kazeem Rasheed Olofin and Ismail Jamiyu, who are still walking freely in Igboho after murdering two innocent souls.
“We would like the general public to know that the matters for which Kazeem Olofin and Jamiu are being held have to do with suspected murder, so the Oyo State Government should ensure that our killed family members get justice.”