- She disclosed that locally made pistols and substances suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects
At least eight suspected landgrabbers have been arrested in Ogun state, the police in the south west state have said.
The suspects were arrested last Friday in the Kajola area of the state, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, told newsmen on Sunday
She disclosed that locally made pistols and substances suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects.
She gave the names of the suspects as 21-year-old Ayodeji Adebayo; 35-year-old Oluwasegun Adesina; Lateef Olawale, and 32-year-old Aliu Ismail.
Others are 32-year-old Akeem Inaolaki; 39-year-old Olatunji Orekoya; 40-year-old Ibrahim Ojola, and 49-year-old Gbenga Ayo.
The police said the suspects, numbering about 16, led by a notorious landgrabber called Yusuf, were said to have attacked the village, wielding various dangerous weapons.
The head of the village, identified as Olusesi Adebayo, informed the police that the hoodlums intimidated and scared off any villager found in sight with weapons.
While the villagers were running for their lives, Adebayo told the division that some of the hoodlums began to erect what appeared to be the foundation of a building on a portion of land in the village.
“They entered our village. They were led by Yusuf. They started chasing any villager they saw with their weapons.
“While they were doing that, other members of the group began to lay the foundation of a building on the portion of land. This land has been in dispute for a long time. The matter is even in Ifo court,” Adebayo was quoted as having told the police division.
The police said their Ifo Division promptly mobilised its anti-robbery squad led by one Inspector, Ojudale Adekunle, to restore peace and bring in the suspects for prosecution.
However, the suspects fled into a nearby bush as soon as they saw police patrol van while men of the anti-robbery unit gave them a hot chase, Odutola disclosed.
Odutola stated, “We recovered two live cartridges. Eight of the suspects were arrested. Our men are working on arresting others who escaped during the operation. The preliminary investigation is ongoing, and they will be transferred to the command headquarters once this is completed.”