Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three suspected land grabbers including an ex-convict for allegedly terrorizing Gbayunre village in Ado Odo, Ota Local Government Area of the state.
The ex-convict, Kola Owolabi, 39, and two others; Sunday Owoyele, 32, and Idowu Ayobami, 32, were arrested for dislodging a family from its landed property in the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Oyeyemi said the police received a petition from the Dada Gbabi family of Gbayunre village complaining 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.
The PPRO said the suspected land grabbers chased out the family from their property situated in the Atan Ayunre area and forcefully occupied the village.
He said, “On the strength of the petition, the Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner in charge of State Criminal Investigation Departments, DCP Babakura Muhammed, to investigate the case and bring the culprit to book.
“In compliance with the CP’s directive, D.C 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 violent land grabbing cases in Ado Odo, Ota and its environs took to their heels.
“One of the arrested suspects, Kola Owolabi had once been arrested for snatching a riffle from an officer but was overpowered then, and he was subsequently charged to court and remanded in prison custody.
“Recovered from them are assorted Criminal charms and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.”
Oyeyemi advised Ayodele Joseph, the leader of the violent gang to report himself to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran Abeokuta in his own interest.
He said, “If he failed to do so, he should rest assured that 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.”
