CITIZENS COMPASS—Fresh facts emerged on Saturday, about the five people who were found dead in Oreta, Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (IBLCDA), Ikorodu Division in Lagos State.
Citizens Compass reports that the bodies were found on Wednesday, along the Reri river bank in Oreta.
A source in the community who pleaded anonymity told Citizens Compass that none of the ill-fated people were residents of Igbogbo-Baiyeku.
According to her, their assailants brought them to Oreta all the way from Ikeja.
She said that the captives were six in number before one escaped.
He later ran into some local guards who rescued him after listening to his story.
He was later handed over to the Police and Citizens Compass learnt that he is cooperating with them
“After he escaped from his assailants, he was wandering in the night until he ran into some local guards.“
In the process of interrogation, he revealed that they were brought from Ikeja to the riverine area though what brought about the journey could not be established..
“He revealed that they were six in number and five have been killed.”
Irked by the information, the local security intensified efforts by combing the nooks and crannies of Oreta.
Behold, five bodies were found by the river bank.
The Police were later invited to the scene to recover the bodies.
Citizens Compass learnt that this caused palpable fear among residents, many of whom have called on the state and federal government to provide adequate security in their community.
Citizens Compass reported that some years back, many lives were lost to communal clashes in Oreta.
Some of the villages in this community have witnessed a series of land grabbing where many land projects were torched.
Years back, there was a pathetic story of a 12-year-old boy, Senayon, who was observing siesta. Unfortunately some land grabbers struck in the community and residents including the boy’s parents ran for safety.
Oblivious of what was happening, Senayon woke up to pee when he heard the sound of gunshots and quickly ran as far as his breath could carry him.
The poor boy ran towards the river bank where he eventually drowned.
By the time the dusk was settled, the parents on returning home could not find their son.
24 hours later, Senayon’s body was found afloat on the river.
Another pathetic story in Oreta Oreta was that of a 75-year-old woman who was in the community to inspect her ongoing project. Unfortunately, she ran into some land grabbers who gunned her down along the Oreta Road.
Within this period, some parts of Oreta were deserted following the land grabbing activities.
Normalcy later returned to the area with the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force and the then traditional ruler of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Johnson Fatola, a one-time Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Lagos State, Pa Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun and a host of others. Peace has since returned to the area until Wednesday where the five bodies were found.
This has disrupted the relative peace hitherto enjoyed by residents.
Apart from Oreta, a disturbing incident occurred in the Baiyeku area of the LCDA on Sunday where a male resident of Igbogbo was shot dead.
The heinous crime was perpetrated behind the public primary school in Baiyeku. Citizens Compass reported that the deceased was said to have visited Baiyeku for the candle light procession of his friend, simply identified as Hakeem a.k.a Zobo when he was gunned down at about 9p.m.
Eye witnesses’ accounts said the deceased who was dressed in an African attire suddenly excused himself from the venue of the candle light and headed straight behind the primary school oblivious of what would happen.
Some residents of Baiyeku told our Correspondents that the community has suffered neglect for many years.
Residents claimed that apart from the ongoing Igbogbo-Baiyeku road construction and public schools in the area, hardly can one notice the dividends of democracy in Baiyeku and its environs.
The only health center in the area serves over 50 Community Development Associations(LCDA).
To worsen their plights, many communities in the area have been grappling with power outages for the past three months.
It was learnt that residents have been taxing themselves to grade the inner roads, repair their transformers and provide security for themselves as government representatives only visit the area when elections are approaching.
It was observed that the major dividends of democracy were served to Igbogbo and Ibeshe while Baiyeku was conspicuously overlooked.
Two years ago, the federal government constructed a Police post at Afuwape street but this was never put into use.
Apart from the fact that the piece of land hosting the project is under contention, the Police post has been vandalised.
Also, apart from the Igbogbo-Baiyeku road construction, all the inner streets from Baiyeku down to Morekete are fast dilapidating due to neglect.
In a chat with Citizens Compass, the residents expressed hope that the new government of Prince Hammed Aroyewun as the council chairman of IBLCDA will extend the dividends of democracy to them.
Contacted, DSP Babaseyi B. Oluseyi, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, did not respond to messages by Citizens Compass.
Meanwhile, the council chairman has visited the scenes of the crime and directed the Joint Taskforce(JTF) in the area to beef security.
Feelers from Oreta and Baiyeku revealed that the JTF have been patrolling the communities to restore sanity to the area.
