Robbery supspect’s escape  angers  Ikare residents

From Jimoh Ahmed , Ikare-Akloko
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In an apparent show of disappointment over the role of the police  in Ikare on the escape of an armed robbery suspect, the people of Ikare Akoko have protested against the Commander of the Ikare Akoko Police Command, ACP Razak Rauf over what they called questionable role in the  handling of crime and security issues in the area.

The people, mostly youths staged a peaceful protest across major areas in the metropolis, carrying various placards with inscriptions such as Buhari, Area Commander Ikare must go,  IG: the Area Commander must go, Ogunlade Olalekan must not go among others as they called for his removal.

The Hope learnt that the people were protesting the disappearance of a major suspect in an armed attack on a banker in the town.

The suspect, The Hope was told arrested in  the community during the robbery operation and handed over to the police.

According to sources, members of the robbery gang had gone to the residence of the woman, one Alhaja Tawakalitu, a staff of one of the micro finance banks in the town at about 10 pm on August 25.

According to the source, people living in the house were taken aback when lights went off while the generator was still working. One of the occupants  went to check what happened but to his surprise  as he opened the back door, two of the armed robbers pushed him back (awaiting for the door to be opened) and they started dealing matchet blows on  them while the senior brother to the woman, one Abdul Rasheed Yakubu got a deep cut on her head.

 While this went on neighbours sent a distress call to other members of the community who all rushed to the scene and on seeing that the people might likely overpower them, the robbers fled, escaping through the back fence while one of them, later identified as Ogunlade Olalekan was arrested by the community members.

 Olalekan was later handed over to the police who took him and one of the victims  of the robbery attack to a nearby hospital for treatment.

However to the surprise of the people, the suspect who was said to have been chained to the hospital bed was said to have escaped while the handcuffs were left in the hospital.

The report of his escape did not go down well with the people who now reported the case to the Olukare, Oba Akadiri Momoh who called the Area Commander to hear about the development.

Oba Momoh also confirmed from him, the Area Commander that the suspect actually escaped from the hospital.

Speaking on the issue, the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh who expressed displeasure over the manner how the suspect escaped  called on the police to meet the demand of the people by producing the suspect and present him for prosecution.

The monarch however appealed to the people to allow room for peace.

Similarly the council boss, Mr Ashimi Omojola appealed to the people to go about the protest peacefully and prevent it from being hijacked by hoodlums.

Omojola assured the people that government will do everything possible to see that justice is served them.

Speaking, one of the coordinators of the protest, Mr Egunjobi Emmanuel who is also the youth leader of Ilepa, Ikare Akoko called on government not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.

Egunjobi who said the sins of the Area Commadnder is becoming too many said the people are calling for his removal because with him in charge of the Area Command, life is no longer safe for the people.

When our reporter visited the house in question, the place was totally ransacked while it’s occupants have deserted the place.

Similarly, other house owners and residents of the community have also fled their homes.

The woman, Alhaja Tawakalu who is the major victim of the robbery attack, was said to have put to bed prematurely due to the shock she received during the attack and was in an unstable condition, when our reporter visited her where she was taken to for safety.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the police in Ikare on their side of the story was abortive as this reporter was not allowed into the Ikare Police Area Command Office in the town.