The Lagos State Police Command have arrested three suspected political thugs who have confessed to committing a total of five murders during the 2015 general elections.
The suspects, identified as Adebayo Dipo, Alade Ogbulu and Kofi Olumede (Ghanaian), were arrested on the Lagos Island by the Commissioner of Police’s Crack Squad. The suspects confessed to committing the murders after a political rally held at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.
According to the PUNCH, the suspects were arrested in May 2015 during a raid conducted on the Lagos Island by the squad. The suspects were linked to the four deaths that occurred on Sunday, September 21, 2014 when loyal thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), got involved in a fatal clash.
During the arrest, one pump action rifle, one single barrel rifle, four rounds of cartridges, two cutlasses and one axe were recovered from the suspects.
According to the police, the suspects claimed to be working for one Mr. Rafiu Abija confessed to banditry and killing on the Lagos Island. they also added that there were ongoing efforts to apprehend Abija, their supposed ring leader who is currently at large.
21 year old Olumede, a Ghanaian who claimed to have traveled from Ghana to Lagos in 2007, alledged that it was the APC thugs who had engaged them in a fight which caused them to retaliate and the five people were killed.
He said, “We belong to the Abija Group. If we count those who have been killed, they are about six.
“After a political rally in Lagos, some of our boys shot dead Otun, who brought his boys to engage us in a fight. It was one Layi, our gang member, who shot him.
“On the following day, the APC faction came to Enuwa area to engage us. We killed four of their members.
“We are loyal to Abija. It was Abija who brought all these guns. Abija had so many boys. I was a meat pie seller before I joined the group on the Lagos Island.”
30 year old Dipo, 30, who is from Osun State denied allegations that the gang killed five persons after the rally.
He said, “It was only Ashake that we killed. The others died during clashes with our gang. We also lost some of our members during the clashes.”
CP Kayode Aderanti advised the public to beware and provide credible information as regards any dark spots they might notice so the police could raid them.
He said, “They have confessed to be members of the Abija Group that has been terrorising the Island area. We appeal to members of the public to cooperate with the police to ensure safety.”
