By Christopher Oji
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered an investigation into the role of the Police Tactical Team in the Okokomailko area of the state in the release of six suspects believed to be notorious cult members.
There has been palpable tension in the area since the release of the suspects, as residents of Agric, in Ojo, Lagos State, are still on edge since the release of the six members of the dreaded Aiye cult group. It was gathered that the cult members and others were responsible for many of the armed robberies and cult killings on the Lagos community.
The police team arrested the cult members and recovered firearms and ammunition from them, but allegedly facilitated their release by substituting the earlier charges with a lenient two-count charge.
According to one of the community leaders, who spoke under anonymity, “The Tactical Team has a lot of explanation to make and they have put the lives of the community leaders in danger now.
“They have advised the cult members to be begging us and now we are all afraid that those boys may return to attack us.
“For about three years, there were armed robberies and cult killings in our community, prompting us to make a report to the Tactical Team. They swung into action and arrested six members of the cult group, while others escaped. They also recovered some guns and charms from them.
“We expressed our willingness to support the police team to ensure proper prosecution of the cult members and the arrest of other members of the gang.
“Suddenly, the police team changed. They hid information about the suspects from us.
They charged the suspects to court without even informing us. We had to engage a lawyer to follow up with the case in court.
“To our surprise, the police team withdrew the first eight-count charge and replaced it with a lesser two-count charge. The magistrate was forced to grant bail to the suspects after the policemen had withdrawn the initial charge and replaced it with a lesser and lenient charge.
“Now these boys are going from one house to another to beg the landlords to discontinue the case.”
Lagos State polic public relations officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement yesterday, said: “Following allegations levelled against the Tactical Commander, Okokomaiko, bordering on complicity and other wrongdoings in the investigation process and prosecution procedure of six suspects for serious crimes, CP Olohundare Jimoh has set up a committee of senior officers headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), including the OC, Legal, of the command, to investigate the allegations and submit findings within one week.
“Consequent upon this, the Tactical Commander has been transferred out of the tactical squad to pave way for a thorough and unhindered investigation into the allegations in the report. The outcome of the investigation will certainly be made public.
“The command does not support any form of corruption, complicity or compromise of investigation and prosecution procedures by any of its officers. The command will make sure that, if the officer involved is found wanting in anyway, appropriate disciplinary measures will be promptly applied to serve as effective deterrent to others.”