The driver of Alhaji Olatunji Rasaq, popularly known as Alhaji Gay, who was allegedly murdered during a protest against him in the Alagbado area of Lagos State, has finally decided to reveal how his boss was killed.
The driver of the deceased, Wasiu Adedeji, said when the mob descended on him and Olatunji, they had sighted a police van and made a beeline for it.
Adedeji said he was shocked when the policemen did not lift a finger to assist them.
He further alleged that the policemen watched as angry protesters inflicted machete cuts on Olatunji.
It will be recalled that the late Alhaji Olatunji allegedly died after a mob attacked him during a protest by members of the community and landlords.
The protest was against Olatunji, alleged to be raping young boys in the community, threatening residents with thugs and grabbing lands.
The community wanted him to leave and had written series of petition to the state Commissioner of Police.
The police had however turned deaf ears and blinds eyes to happenings in the community until the murder of Olatunji.
Adedeji, who was driving when the incident happened, said: “On Monday of that fateful day, Tunji and I went to buy goods from Alagbado Market when we saw a large crowd at Irepodun Junction.
“We didn’t know what they were doing.
“We also noticed four motorcycles carrying passengers were trailing us.
“The motorcyclists suddenly double crossed us.
“I was forced to stop the vehicle.
“They ordered me to get down from the car but I refused.
“They began to use machetes to hit the windscreen of the vehicle.
“My boss and I sighted a police patrol van from Alagbado Division and I quickly drove towards them.”
According to Adedeji: “I however didn’t know that the hoodlums had mapped out a terrible plan.
“Immediately we got there, a large number of thugs attacked us.
“When it became obvious that we were not safe even in the presence of police officers, my boss asked me to drive to the police station.
“He wanted us to report the attack.
“He said that policemen in the van might have been compromised since they didn’t do anything to help us.
“On our way to the station, my boss called several senior police officers to notify them of the attack.
“Unfortunately, we were attacked again midway in the presence of the police officers by some thugs.
“The thugs were led by one Idowu Terror, Olope Ayo and Olori Taofeek.
“They attacked and stabbed Olatunji on his hand and head with machetes.
“It was when the police saw him lying helplessly that they started shooting into the air to scare the thugs away.
“We rushed him to the hospital.”
Adedeji said that Olatunji was rushed to Merit Hospital located in Alagbado.
The patient was however rejected.
He was referred to Ile-Epo General Hospital, but died on the way to the hospital.
Meanwhile, it was gathered the Baale of Temididre Alagbado Community, his son and nine other members of the community have been arrested in connection with the murder of Olatunji.
Residents of the area said detectives from the State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Yaba stormed the area and arrested 11 persons, including the Baale of the community, Chief Nojeem Abioye.
Abioye’s son was also arrested.
They were all whisked away to Panti for interrogation.
Abioye had earlier said the entire residents of the community organised the protest because of the activities of Olatunji.
His words: “The purpose of our protest was to create awareness and call the attention of the world to the atrocity committed by Olatunji because he has been threatening the peace of our community with his thugs.
“He has been selling off people’s land.
“It was a peaceful protest until Olatunji came and disrupted it with his thugs.”
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