Kunle Adelabu
The Local Joint Task Force (LJTF) of the Ikorodu Division security architecture, Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL/GTE), has given its scorecards for the year 2022.
The local security outfit, which was put together over a year ago by the IDPIL/GTE, under the authority of the traditional rulers in Ikorodu Division led by His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa (Oba) Engr. Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, was formally launched in March 2022.
The General Commandant, LJTF, Akogun Lanre Olabinjo, presented the scorecards of the group, during the end of the year party organized for them by the IDPIL/GTE tagged, ‘Christmas & New Year Party for Gallant Security Operatives’.
Olabinjo, who said that the team lost four operatives, added that a total of 87 suspected cultists and four armed robbers were arrested, and are being prosecuted at the moment.
“During the period under review, the LJTF lost four men………”, he said.
“Within the short time that we formally started operations, we have made 87 arrests of suspected cult members, and we have arraigned them and are being prosecuted in court as we speak. We also arrested four armed robbers with their guns and ammunition, and two others that robbed at Owutu with wooden guns “, LJTF Commandant said.
He also said that the operatives also handled 15 rape cases which, according to him, were reported to the police, and also drug related cases which he said has become very worrisome.
“Rape cases that we have handled within the period are 15. We arrested the suspects and reported the matter accordingly”, he said.
“The most cases that we handled have to do with drug abuse by our children and brothers that engaged in drugs abuse which affected their mental situations. If I am not mistaken, we rehabilitated 23 of them. They stayed within the IDPIL compound for about 2 months, and we catered for their feeding and other things and with God’s assistance, they’re fully back in the society, behaving well”, he revealed.
“However, about 8 of them are in critical conditions and they have been transferred to the Rehabilitation Centre.
“We appeal to our royal and community leaders to help us put in place measures to sensitise and educate our young ones against drug abuse which is having adverse effects on them. We want parents to caution their children and wards. If we look at it critically, it is the drug abuse that is causing most of the problems in our society”.
The LJTF Commandant also appealed to the Ayangbure of Ikorodu to intervene by calling the head of the Hausa community in Ikorodu to order. According to him, the Hausa leader always prevented his men from carrying out their duty when Hausas are suspected in some matters.
“I am happy that the Ayangbure of Ikorodu is here today, I will appeal to him to help us call the Seriki of Hausa to order by not encouraging his people to resist arrest by our operatives. We have experienced situations where we had gone to make an arrest in cases where a Hausa man stabbed another man with a knife, and the Seriki did not allow us to arrest him because he is a Hausa man”, he appealed.
“We want your intervention in that regard. It will not be a good encouragement when the leader of the Hausa community is preventing us from arresting a suspect. We experienced another case yesterday (Monday) when our men wanted to arrest a suspect and he prevented them from effecting the arrest for over an hour and I had to call off our operatives so as not to start a crisis within the community.
“We are not sentimental in our arrests”, he added.
Akogun Olabinjo also gave account of his team activities concerning stranded visitors to Ikorodu who were accommodated and were safely assisted in returning back to their respective bases.
“Another area where we have recorded success was assisting people from other communities who journeyed into Ikorodu and became stranded. We assisted 13 of them and accommodated them in our office, though, we did not accommodate the 13 at once.
“We took them in two or three at once. It is important to state that we have been able to relocate them back to their destination except one, Daniel from Akwa Ibom, who alleged that his father prevented him from going to any other place and that his other siblings have ventured out to make a good life for themselves”, he stated.
“Unfortunately, when he got to Ikorodu, he was dispossessed of his belonging by hoodlums at Sabo, but today, IDPIL has adopted him and he’s behaving very well. We have also gotten across to his parents and they are fully aware that he’s with us.
“Above all, we have to thank God that we started very well and today, we have worked and assisted the Ikorodu Division and we are still very committed to continue to work for Ikorodu to protect the lives and properties of its residents’ ‘, he said.
While stating that the operatives are facing more challenges in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Akogun Olabinjo pleaded with the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo to intervene by speaking with the Council Chairman and the security operatives for a good working relationship.
“I am also happy that Alaiyeluwa, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, is also here today. Most challenges facing us today is from Igbogbo. We want the Kabiyesi to intervene and speak with the Council Chairman and other local security outfits in Igbogbo on the need for us to work in harmony. We are also into security of lives and people which is the common goal. The idea that we will not allow you work in our domain should not be encouraged”, he pleaded.
“The last time that the Jigbo festival was held at Oreta, we were there and we maintained peace and order and worked with others. We were also at Bayeku last week to maintain peace.
“There is nothing wrong with us going to Igbogbo and working with other local vigilantes there. We want synergy and cooperation across board for us to be able to effectively and adequately function. Our operations are extended to Agbowa, Ogijo and Emuren because of their proximity to Ikorodu. We do work with OPC and others in these places closely. If we are working to sanitise the Ikorodu Division and care less about these places, we will be working counter – productively”.
He thanked the royal fathers, High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the Chairman, IDPIL/GTE and his team for the unprecedented support which he said has made the operatives recorded successes.
“I thank His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya, Chairman, IDPIL/GTE and entire IDPIL management for their support. Though, we have been working in the local vigilance system for long, what we have been experiencing under this security architecture is unprecedented and very encouraging. I also thank our operatives for their cooperation.
Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, the Executive Secretary, IDPIL/GTE, in his opening remarks, said that the advent of the organization has impacted positively on the division and commended the operatives.
He assured them that the IDPIL will continue to encourage and motivate them for optimal output.
“Since we started the IDPIL in Ikorodu, it is only the people that are not staying here that will say that there is no improvement in our security situation. You have done marvelously well. Everybody, both at home and abroad, are praising you. We have people willing to support because of what we are doing, and for more developments to come to Ikorodu
“To further encourage you, we have further paid your salaries till this December.
“Today is not for speech making, but a day to let you know that we, at the IDPIL, really appreciate you and we want to implore you to work within the guidelines and not exceed your bound”, he added.
The IDPIL Secretary also reiterated that the operatives should not see themselves as alternatives to the Police.
“We have always said that IDPIL/GTE LJTF is not an alternative to the Nigerian Police Force. We are just to complement them; do some underground work and assist the police in discharging their functions effectively and effectively”, he said.
Royal fathers and other guests in attendance equally commended the IDPIL operatives for their activities in 2022.
