Residents
of Agbota Community in Oda Area of Akure South Local Government, Ondo
State, have sent a save-our-soul message to the State Governor, Olusegun
Mimiko, over the continuous harassment and arrest of landlords and
residents of the area by the men of the Ondo State Police Command, over
the mysterious death of an aged farmer.
The farmer was allegedly killed in the bush in Agbota Community last
week by yet to be identified people.
It was gathered that since the man was killed, police from Oda Division
and State Investigation Bureau(SIB) had continued to raid the community
to arrest landlords and other residents.
As at the last count, over 30 people have been arrested in the community
by policemen who later released them on bail after making payment of
about N10, 000 to secure their freedom.
Many of the residents, it was gathered, could no longer sleep in their
homes due to persistent arrest being carried out by the police.
At a point, it was gathered that members of the community were asked to
contribute a sum of N2 million to settle the police, to stop arresting
innocent people in the community.
According to a statement issued by members of the Agbota Community, the
people begged the state governor to urgently intervene in the matter.
The statement reads: �We are begging the state governor to urgently wade
into the matter because the police have continued to arrest our people
indiscriminately. They have continued to extort money from our people
for an offence they did not commit.
�It is sad that the police that should be protecting people are now
harassing them by invading people�s house to effect arrest instead of
interrogating the people.
�We are not asking the police not to investigate the matter but we are
tired of the way they pick our people on the streets and later ask them
to pay huge amount of money to bail themselves.�
When contacted, the state police spokesperson, Wole Ogodo, said he has
not been properly briefed and promised to investigate the matter.
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