Posted by By AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan on
Worried by increased wave in armed robbery incidents in Ibadan metropolis, the Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police, Friday night raided the most notorious hemp-smoking joint in the state, situated at Molete leading to the arrest of over 80 street urchins and about 150 commercial motorcycles popularly called ‘Okada'.
…Arrest 80 area boys, over 150 motorcycles
Worried by increased wave in armed robbery incidents in Ibadan metropolis, the Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police, Friday night raided the most notorious hemp-smoking joint in the state, situated at Molete leading to the arrest of over 80 street urchins and about 150 commercial motorcycles popularly called ‘Okada'.
The joint, which is within the premises of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), already bought over by Ibadan controversial politician, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, was said to be harbouring hardened criminals and men of shady character.
Police source confided in Sunday Sun that the Friday operation, which lasted for about two hours, was carried out by a joint force of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Mobile Police unit, the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) and the Monitoring Unit of the Command.
Interestingly, the operation came barely 48 hours after the Acting Commissioner of Police (ACP) in the state, Mr. Ralph Ibeazor, read the riot act to all Divisional Police Officers (DPO) in the state over their inability to curtail criminal activities in the state. Ibeazor was reported to have given the DPOs a marching order to root out the criminals or face disciplinary action.
Sunday Sun learnt that the police chief lost his temper with the DPOs following the robbery incident at Faith Microfinance Bank, Apata, where a police officer was shot and unspecified amount of money carted away.
It was gathered that security reports had revealed that the NITEL joint has been the take-off point for most criminals in the state while many one-chance Okada robbers also took cover there after their operations.
The joint was said to be enjoying some protection with the influence of the Molete political warlord, since some of his boys also go there to smoke.
A Sunday Sun source disclosed that those arrested at the joint, including the drug peddlers, told security men that the son of a notable politician in the area was the one collecting dues from them with assurance of security protection.
When contacted on the incident, the state Acting Commissioner of Police confirmed the operation, describing it as a very successful one.
"Yes, it was true my men carried out an operation at Molete Friday night. We made a very good discovery. But it is too early to give you the details. We are sorting out our discovery. But I can tell you we made good discovery," Ibeazor stated.
The source also disclosed that a particular vehicle, which has been frequently used for robbery operations in the state was discovered at the joint.
"The good side of the operation is that a vehicle, which all along has been used for robbery operations in the state, was discovered at the joint. Anytime police pursued the vehicle they would not know how it would disappear. So, it was a successful operation and we are already screening those arrested to separate the chaff from the wheat.", the source stated.