The Police have arrested three members of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC who arrested notorious Fulani warlord, Iskilu Wakili, accused of allegedly terrorising Oyo communities.
The Oyo State Police Command said the OPC members were detained and interrogated for arson and murder.
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The Police command in a statement by its spokesman, CSP. Fadeyi Olugbenga said, ” preliminary findings revealed that some OPC members went to Kajola community in Ibarapa North Local government Area of Oyo State. While there, the house of the Wakili in question was set ablaze, while a female (the identity of who is yet to be ascertained) was burnt in the fire and Wakili (about 75 years old and blind) with two (2) other persons were picked up. The three (3) of them are presently in the custody of the Police.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed that Wakili (due to his frail appearance and state of health), be moved to the Hospital, while others are being interrogated. Others being interrogated are the OPC members, involved in arson and murder”.
The Police added that anybody that has any case against Iskilu Wakili should report it to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) Iyaganku Ibadan for discreet Investigation.
Wakili had been accused of allegedly terrorising, Ayete, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Wakilu was arrested barely a week after the Gani Adams-led OPC arrested his deputy and some other members of his gang.
Dedeji Oluwole, the OPC sector coordinator who led his operatives and other vigilante groups to arrest Wakili, confirmed the arrest of his men by the police
Oluwole, the Federal Capital Territory OPC coordinator, who is also an indigene of Igboora, said he relocated four months ago to Ayete to bring Wakili to book after security agencies failed to arrest him.
The OPC leader said it took over four days of continued operations and surveillance to nab Wakili and three of his accomplices.
According to Oluwole, more than 10 OPC operatives went on the mission. He said Wakili’s men shot fiercely at the OPC operatives before they were eventually nabbed.
He, however, expressed shock that the police detained three of his men after they handed over Wakili.
“We took Wakili and the three others from Igangan to Igboora and handed them over to the DPO at Igboora. The name of the DPO is Ajayi Mark. As I am talking to you, they have taken them to Iyaganku at the State CID in Ibadan with three of my boys,” Oluwole said.
Continuing, he said, “When we took Wakili to the police this morning, the police said we should take Wakili to the hospital first which we refused because we are not in a position to do that. We told the police that they have been complaining all these days that they wanted to arrest Wakili and now we have brought Wakili to their doorstep, they should take over.
“Nobody touched Wakili, nobody hurt him, there are no traces of any hurt on him. He is an old man and we had promised the whole world that we won’t hurt them but we would arrest them for the whole world to see who is Wakili because all these while, he has been a faceless person, nobody knows him. We didn’t beat him or harm him. When we nabbed him, we put him inside a vehicle and handed him over to the police.
“The DPO then said he got a signal from the CP (Commissioner of Police) in Iyaganku. They have taken three of my men to Iyaganku now.”
Meanwhile the residents of the area have berated the Police for detaining OPC operatives.
The residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said it is a known fact that Wakili and his men have been terrorising the area for long.
