“Our Lives Under Threat By Vigilante Group Assisted By Police Officers – Community Cries Out In Osogbo (PHOTOS)

Residents of Idi-Omo community, Sabo Road in Osogbo have called for help over how some military men in vigilante uniform reportedly appeared in the area to harass people with the assistant of some police officers.

According to an eyewitness, Prince Nifaji Kehinde who told OsunReporters Correspondent in Osogbo that some police officers use to visit the area at least four to five times in a week to demand for cash from those who are engaging in illegal businesses in the area.

According to him, “We are tired of those uniform men who suppose to be of protection to us, they are partnering with those who are dealing in illegal business of smoking and selling marijuana ‘Igbo’ in this vicinity.

“Recently, the matter has included the vigilante group appearing in uniform working with policemen to collect money from those hoodlums and even transact with them in what they are selling. They came on Saturday to harass everybody in an attempt to arrest some of us without committing any offense. The reason for such pandemonium might be an halt in the illegal transaction with those guys.

“Many innocent people suffered varying degrees of injury, some were rushed to the hospital while others scampered to safety.

“We are Calling on the authority of both local and State Governments including the Ataoja palace to come to our rescue and warn the Osogbo Vigilante Group conniving with some officers of the Nigeria Police Force to desist from such act.

While speaking with one of the community leaders, Mr Bakare Kasali who also confirmed the ugly incident through report of the aggrieved members of the community kept wondering why the law enforcement agencies could go so low to the extent of threatening the peace of the community. He further stressed that the act is lunacy of the highest order.

One of the youth leaders of the community, Mr. Murphy Adeagbo condemned the action in strong terms, saying the action is subject to investigation by the appropriate authorities.

Efforts by OsunReporters News to get facts from both police and vigilante group proved abortive as Divisional Police Officers at Dugbe and Oja-Oba Division denied all allegations, saying those officers involved were not from their divisions while officers at the Vigilante Group in Osogbo were not ready to talk on the matter.