Posted by thephctelegraph on
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police has denied reports that some people were stockpiling arms in Abeokuta, the state capital....
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police has denied reports that some people were stockpiling arms in Abeokuta, the state capital. Some informants had told Elendureports.com that people acting on behalf of Gov. Gbenga Daniel were stockpiling arms in areas around the State House of Assembly and the residence of the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Olawale Olopade. The alleged arms are reported to be the internal security apparatus of Ogun State called Strike Force.
In a telephone chat with Elendureports.com, the Chief of Staff to Gov. Gbenga Daniels told us he was not in a position to comment on the story. When we inquired if the Commissioner for Youths and Sports was involved in the arms stockpile, the Chief of Staff told us, "I wouldn't know about that."
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Apapa told Elendureports.com in a brief chat that the story was not true. Our chat with the Police Commissioner went thus: ER: My name is Jonathan Elendu and I want to ask you a few questions concerning a story I'm investigating.
CP: How do I know you are who you say you are...why don't you come to Ogun State so that we can talk face to face and know who we are dealing with?
ER: You and I have spoken in the past.
CP: Really when?
ER: Early last month when I was investigating the story of the lady who was illegally detained...
CP: Oh. So what can I do for you?
ER: Sir, have you received reports that some people are stockpiling arms in Ogun State?
CP: Nothing like that.
ER: Are you saying you have not heard that some people are bringing arms into your state and that the Commissioner for Youth and Sports is in charge of this?
CP: I have not gotten any report like that. I am hearing from you for the first time.
ER: Are you serious that you have not really heard about arms being brought into your state, Sir?
CP: No.
ER: So, what's going to happen now?
CP: I will send men to obtain search warrants and carry out surveillance.
ER: We understand that some prominent Ogun indigenes have heard this same story but were reluctant to tell you about it...
CP: Why?
ER: They feel you will not do anything about it because you are too close to the Governor...
CP: What do they mean by too close to the Governor? This is the President's State. We will work on any information we have...I take instructions from the IG.
ER: By the way, have you apologized to Toyin Alawiye Ibrahim as ordered by the Court?
CP: No. It is not me that was ordered to apologize it is the former Commissioner of Police.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports called us to deny the story and his involvement in stockpiling of arms. "I support the work you are doing. But please publish the truth," he told Elendureports.com. "We play politics with our brains not arms. I can assure you I am a peace loving man. Check my antecedents and you will see that I am a man of peace. We have worked hard to take arms off the streets. How can I now start stockpiling arms?" he asked. The Commissioner told us that he "single handedly brought peace to our campuses and that's why I was promoted from Special Adviser to Commissioner."
At about 2:00 PM on Thursday, Olawale Olopade called us to say that his houses were searched by the Police. The Commissioner told us the Police informed him that the order to search his houses came from the Inspector General of Police. He attributed his ordeal to his political enemies. "They know I am in control of the youths in Ogun State." He said the Police told him after their search that they were satisfied that he was not complicit in any crimes.
It will be recalled that Gov. Gbenga Daniel in a chat with Elendureports.com sometime in June boasted that the 2007 elections would be fiercely fought. He declared that he and his supporters were ready to spill their blood. This statement from the Governor has been used over and again by the Governor's opponents to score points.