Police Accuses Monarchs of Aiding Criminals in Ikorodu
Fatai Owoseni, Commissioner of Police in Lagos State has accused traditional rulers in Ikorodu of sponsoring criminals in the area, emphasizing that the chiefs aid and abet the criminals to continually unleash mayhem on the communities.
Mr Owoseni was speaking on Sunday at a meeting with the traditional rulers.
According to him, the chiefs know the criminals yet they fold their arms and allow crime to fester.
“There are Baales (village heads) that are informants and sponsors of criminals in this area. They allow militants to build houses harbouring criminals in the creeks.
“I want the royal fathers to call their chiefs to order. This meeting is convened to tell them that we will no longer tolerate silent conspiracy.
“Traditional rulers cannot tell me they don’t know who is who in their domain; all communities are advised to organise their local vigilantes,’’ Owoseni said
The police chief further accused the traditional rulers of engaging in what he described as the conspiracy of silence.
“In the community, there are hunters and farmers; they can’t say they don’t know criminals in their communities.
“There is conspiracy of silence on criminal activities and this conspiracymust stop.
“Traditional rulers and religious leaders must unmask the criminals in their communities.
“We have begun operations at Isawo; we need intelligence reports from the traditional rulers.
“Killing for rituals must stop and with your support, we can stop those killings.
“Let us take ownership of our areas and expose the hoodlums amongst you.
“Some of the Baales and chiefs supply foods to these militants; many of them are spies to these vandals and militants,’’ He alleged.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four police men, an army captain and a civilian were on killed by suspected militants in Isawo area of Ikorodu on April 9.
Owoseni told the royal fathers that the police would no longer tolerate people being killed and maimed under the watchful eyes of traditional rulers.
In his response, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Shotobi, assured the police that the traditional institution would partner with security operatives in curbing crimes in the area.
Shotobi said that the royal fathers were investigating the recent killings and other crimes in Ikorodu area so as to expose the hoodlums.
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