The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, on Wednesday assured the people of the state that justice would prevail in the alleged killing of an Islamic scholar, Lateef Saliu, by a masquerade in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Okoye said the three suspects already arrested in connection with the incident would soon be arraigned in court following the conclusion of police investigation.
Okoye spoke just as there was a new twist over the whereabouts of the said masquerade.
It will be recalled that the killing of the 22-year-old cleric in Ijaiye area of Abeokuta on Sunday sparked a reprisal attack by irate Muslim youths who set ablaze a house reportedly belonging to one of the masquerade faithful.
To forestall a breakdown of law and order, the state police command banned the celebration of Egungun (masquerade) festival in the state and also arrested some suspects.
But briefing reporters on Wednesday shortly before parading 16 crime suspects at the Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Okoye declared that his command would pursue justice in the alleged killing of the Islamic cleric.
He said nobody would influence police investigation into the matter, adding that three suspects were already in custody.
“At present, there are three suspects in police custody. Nobody will influence the investigation the police is carrying out. Justice must prevail,” the commissioner stated.
Okoye, however, denied that the masquerade was in police custody contrary to earlier reports.
He said the police command was intensifying efforts to bring all those culpable in the murder to book.
Findings revealed that one Kassim Dada, now at large, was allegedly the one that bore the masquerade’s mask on the fateful day.
Speaking on some recent achievements recorded by his command, Okoye disclosed that 13 other suspects were arrested by police in connection with various crimes, including kidnapping, murder and armed robbery.
The police boss added that different dangerous weapons, including pump action guns, AK 47 rifle, live ammunition, hammer, mobile phones and N58,000 cash as well as three vehicles were recovered from the suspects.
Okoye also narrated how a suspected armed robber was shot dead in Sagamu while attempting to snatch a rifle from policemen.
Meanwhile, the three suspects arrested over the killing of an Islamic scholar in Abeokuta last Sunday have denied complicity in the incident.
Speaking in separate interviews yesterday, the suspects, Waidi Babalola, Shittu Adeyemi and Ajani Olabimtan, said policemen arrested them in error.
Babalola, 64, who claimed to be the Balogun Oje of Ijaiye community, said he alongside other chiefs went to the police to report the matter and actually wanted to pre-empt further violence.
He said: “We were not there but when we learnt that some Muslims were burning a house belonging to masquerade faithful, we rushed to Oke Itoku Police Station in order to prevent the incident from snowballing into Muslim-traditionalist conflict.
“When we got there, they arrested us and labeled us suspects.
“The boy who carried this controversial masquerade had been warned three years ago not to participate again in the Egungun (masquerade) festival.
“The boy had been banned because of violent activities.
“The Egun is called as Leyin Aponle, but the name of the boy who carried its costume is Kassim Dada.
“We don’t know where he is now.”
While corroborating him, Chief Shittu Adeyemi, who is the Alapini of Ijaiye community, said they were arrested during a purported peace meeting between traditionalists and some concerned Muslim leaders.
Adeyemi, 61, claimed that he was not present when violence erupted at the masquerade procession.
But Ajani Olabimtan, who claimed to be Kassim’s boss in commercial transport business, alleged that the killers of the Islamic scholar were cult members.
According to Olabimtan, some cultists, who were apparently conveying an injured colleague on motorcycles, ran into the masquerade procession and shot sporadically, leading to the death of Lateef.
He said: “Those on motorcycles escaped and soon, I saw one man lying on the ground.
“I had wanted to carry him but there was no assistance from anybody.
“That was why I went to police station to report and to prevent a situation whereby the crime would be blamed on the masquerade followers.
“Kassim is not a troublesome person.
“He has not committed any crime before.
“I was the one that asked him to remove the masquerade’s mask when somebody was shot.
“I told the police that I know one of the cultists and I’ve urged the police to assist me in apprehending them.”