Ogun State Police Command has arrested three members of land grabbing syndicate, terrorising Gbayunre village in Ado Odo Ota Local Council of Ogun State.
The suspects- Sunday Owoyele, 32, Idowu Ayobami, 32, and Kola Owolabi 39, were arrested on April 4, 2023, following a petition received from the Dada Gbabi family of Gbayunre village.
In the petition, the family stated that a group of land grabbers led by one Joseph Ayodele, invaded their village with dangerous weapons and chased out the family from their landed property, situated at Atan Ayunre area and forcefully occupied the village.
“On the strength of the petition, the Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner in-charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Babakura Muhammed, to investigate the case and bring the culprit to book.
“In compliance with the CP’s directive, Muhammed detailed a team of detectives to the scene where three members of the syndicate were apprehended, while others, including their leader, Ayodele Joseph, who has been on the wanted list of the Command in connection with series of land grabbing cases in Ado Odo Ota and its environs, took to their heels.
“One of the suspects, Kola Owolabi, had once been arrested for snatching a rifle from an officer, but was overpowered, and he was subsequently charged to court and remanded in prison custody.
“Recovered from them are assorted charms and weeds suspected to be Cannabis sativa,” a police source said.
Meanwhile, the Command has advised Ayodele Joseph, the leader of the violent gang, to report himself at the SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, in his own interest.
The Command said if he failed to do so, he will be hunted for and brought to justice, as the Command will not fold its arms while some unscrupulous elements will be making life difficult for innocent members of the public.
