…As Security agencies in Edo cut bush, around kidnappers’ suspected den***
A leader of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on Wednesday told the Federal Government to ensure that the killers of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin are fish out, without further delay.
Adebanjo stated this while addressing a news conference in Ikeja, stressing that government’s claim of doing its best to unravel the killers, can only gain weight, when the culprits are brought to book.
Olakunrin, daughter of the Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, who was shot and killed on July 12 by unknown gunmen, while inside her SUV, along Sagamu-Ore road in Ondo State, has been buried.
The Afenifere leader said that the police authorities had claimed they had yet to establish any links between those arrested so far with the crime.
Adebanjo said Afenifere and other Nigerians were expecting nothing short of justice for Olakunrin.
He urged the government to intensify efforts to bring her killers to book.
The Afenifere leader said Olakunrin’s murder reinforces the precarious security situation in many parts of the country.
Adebanjo described the situation in the South West as unacceptable, saying it must not be allowed to get out of hand.
The Afenifere leader advocated return to what he called true federalism, saying the system the country was operating was dysfunctional.
Adebanjo said all members of the group shared in the grief of Pa Fasoranti at this trying time.
However, the Police Command in Edo’ in conjunction with other security agencies in the state, on Wednesday, ordered the clearing of the bush around a suspected kidnappers’ den along the Benin-Ore highway, to ensure safety of travellers along the road.
Some expended pellets and wrappers were recovered in the bush during the operation. No suspect was however expectedly in sight, as the huge numbers of those who went and the multiplicity of the security agencies involved, must have removed any notion of secrecy, in respect of the operation.
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The Edo Commissioner of Police (CP) Mohammed DanMallam, led some senior and junior officers of the command in the joint operation.
A detachment of the MOPOL 5, Benin, led by the Commander, ACP Mohammed Rabiu, was also involved in the operation which took place on the notorious spot in the Edo section of the highway.
Also involved was a team from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), led by the State Commandant, Mr Makinde Ayinla, and a squad from the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, led by the brigade’s Operations Officer.
DanMallam who spoke with newsmen during the operation, said that “taking the battle to the kidnappers’ den” had become expedient in order to permanently dislodge the criminals.
According to the police commissioner, “the battle line is now drawn.”
DanMallam, who also supervised the clearing of the bush around the hot spot, said that the measure was part of the strategy jointly agreed on by the security agencies in the state and the Edo Government.
He noted that the criminals took advantage of the bushes to perpetrate crimes, and said that, in view of this, the bush would be cleared and the area graded to about 50 metres from the road.
The police commissioner said that with the clearing of the bush, it would be difficult for the criminals to attack road users.
He also disclosed that so far, many arrests had been made along the road with several arms and ammunition recovered.
He also directed the immediate deployment of some personnel from the Special Anti Robbery Squards (SARs) of the command to the area and urged the NSCDC to do same to complement the command’s efforts.
