Worried by the worsening insecurity and incessant attacks of  Igangan communities, in Ibarapa North Local Government  area of  Oyo state, Southwest Nigeria, allegedly by marauding herdsmen, its residents,  on Sunday, threatened to resolve to self-defense

The leader,  Igangan Youth Forum (IYF), Mr. Oladiran Oladokun, made the declaration during a roundtable conference   themed  “Stemming The Rising Tide of Insecurity in the SouthWest Region/Rehabilitation of Victims of the Recent Igangan Crisis”, organized by Majeobaje Movement, held at the Pentonrise Events Centre, Old Bodija, Ibadan.

Speaking further, Oladokun, maintained that they are ready to resolve to self-defense going by the incessant attacks they have been unleashing on them by fulani herdsmen as both the federal and state governments have failed them at Igangan.

“Bandits, fulani herdsmen or whatever you may call them, honestly, we are under an incursion. There is need for us to motivate, educate, coordinate and enlighten ourselves in order for us not to be caught unawares which is one of the take home lessons for this gathering. So, to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

“We’ve been left on our own and we’ve learnt a lot from the incidents as well as this gathering. It’s high timetime we defend our communities. We have cried enough. We will cry no more. Now is time for action,” he said.

He charged individuals to protect their families as everybody is on his or her own.

“Let everybody protect their territories, there is a coinage which says OYO, ‘On Your Own’. I hope we have some  stakeholders who have listening ears and not those with deaf ears to act now.

“Nobody should depend on the government at this juncture for protection. We should be on the state of what the Yorubas would call ‘oju ni Alakan fi nso ori’.We are not all safe,” he added.

The leader of the town youth forum suggested that the militia building for protection should start from local communities for maximum protection.

Earlier in his remarks, the Majeobaje movement convener, Chief Akintayo Akin-Deko, made the call for unity of purpose among the people for collective efforts to tackle insecurity.

He condemned the recent attack by suspected herdsmen at Igangan.

Akintayo said it is time for action to protect the Yorubas.

According to him, this would propel the activation of Amotekun, vigilante, Agbekoya, OPC groups across the state, saying they should be allowed to carry arms to protect their communities.

“We want to put up a self defense measure, we direly need a united structure just like we wanted it to be for Amotekun to fight insecurity as a group. We’ve been on this for the last three years, but the recent absurd attack on Igangan by the alleged Fulani herdsmen is a catalyst that led to this gathering. Majeobaje has been striving to unite different groups together.

“This fight is against those killing us and not the Fulanis. If you’re a law abiding Omoluabi Fulani, we are ready to protect you with our own lives. Our anger and defense are against non Omoluabi herdsmen killing our people on our land.

He added that the Majeobaje group is ready to fish out the perpetrators of the attack which is not aimed at getting revenge but justice and also to bring the relief to the family members of the victims as well as rehabilitation of the town.

Akintayo also appealed to the Southwest governors to leave the operations of Amotekun outside politics, adding that Yorubaland need united and depoliticized Amotekun.

Mr. Wole Oladeji, who represented DAWN commission at the event, stated that the governors lack the political will to drive Amotekun. He admonished the people to see security as a collective responsibility.

The event, also, had, in attendance, Mr. Yomi Layinka, Mrs. Bosade Ogunlana, Mr. Ogunwole Olaniyan, the Oluode of Igangan, representatives of Amotekun, Vigilante, Agbekoya, OPC groups, among others.

(c) Mega Icon Magazine 

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Oyo Amotekun, in a statement signed by its Commandant, Col. Olayinka Olayanju Rtd explained that six (6) bandits were arrested along Okeho-Ilua and Okeho – Iseyin road in Kajola Local Government Area during a joint routine patrol in the early hours of Thursday. The bandits, namely Awali Atine, Ibrahim Abu, Shuaib Balau, Ibrahim Musa, Abdullah Masika and Umar Aliu Masika were of Bororo Fulani ethnic group.

The remaining five (5) were arrested at Saki East Local Government Area according to the Amotekun boss.

Olayanju noted that the bandits whose modus operandi is to pretend as herdsmen in the day and violently robbed innocent passengers on the highways at night were caught with 183 cows, weapons and a total sum of N268, 470.

Upon their arrest, the suspects have been handed over to the police authority at Okeho Divisional HQ alongside the 183 herds, weapons and money found in their possession and Saki East Local Government for further investigation.

“They were arrested in separate incidents following encounters at two illegally mounted road blocks. They tried to escape from the scene but was given hot pursuit by the operatives as they tried to evade arrest. We are still on the trail of others who managed to escape”, the statement said .

“Those with necessary information that could help law enforcement agencies in their investigation are please enjoined to cooperate and report to the nearest police authority for proper investigation”, he urged.

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The argument he made was that military and paramilitary outfits to defend Nigeria and its citizens is determined by the Constitution. “no State Government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organization or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts.

As we all know, the primary responsibility of government at any level is the protection of lives and property of the citizen. In carrying out this function, the state employs different layers of measures to ensure effective and efficient policing. It is without doubt that in the past decade, particularly, the current policing administration in our dear country had been stretched to its limits and it is obvious that the reality of our domestic security upheaval will demand of us to recalibrate our police systems.

In achieving this noble goal, the police, the armed forces, and the court of law have swung into action with a view to protect the rights and liberties of Nigerian citizens and its residents within the country. Individuals’ conducts and behaviours living together and within the Nigerian society have been regulated in order for them to conform to the laid down rules and regulations, even as those violating the laws are punished.

Many writers argue that many State governments established such organazations like Kaduna State security outfit known as the “Kaduna State Vigilance Service” to assist security agencies to tackle criminality. The Sokoto State Government also established a local security outfit called “Yan Banga,” which operates in almost all the villages in the state to track criminals and hand them over to security agencies for prosecution. In Zamfara State, it established ‘Yan Sakai’ Local Vigilantes. Kano State has established the Hisbah Corps in 2003. In Borno State, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) was created under the last administration called BOYES (Borno Youth Volunteers). They work in collaboration with the military to fight Boko Haram. Also working for the security of the state are local hunters and vigilante groups which have been around even before insurgency.

The other North East States have similar outfits. In Taraba State, the Taraba Marshalls is a local security outfit set up by the state government in 2018 to tackle insecurity and other violent crimes. Rivers State Government’s Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency. Ebonyi State Government also has the Neighbourhood Watch Group with membership drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state to complement the efforts of security agencies to control crimes and other security challenges in the state.

Since the return of civilian administration in the coyntry, Nigeria has witnessed an increase in the activities of ethnic and regional militia, vigilantes, and other armed groups in the last few years. One of the better-known of these groups is the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) in the southwest which campaigns to protect the interests of the Yoruba ethnic group and seeks autonomy for the Yoruba people. The OPC is a complex organization which has taken on several different roles as it has adapted to the changing political and security environment in Nigeria.

Therefore federal government should do something to avert serious insecurity which Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Operation Amotekun may cause as the case. Nigerians have not forgotten that OPC was responsible for numerous human rights abuses and acts of violence, and its members have killed or injured hundreds of unarmed civilians In its spheres of activity-ethnic militancy and vigilantism- and fighting crimes.

The most widespread killings by the OPC took place in the context of clashes between Yoruba, Hausa’s and other ethnic groups, which reached a peak during 2000 and 2002. However, violence and human rights abuses continued in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Between these years, Nigerians witnessed how OPC activities ranging from political agitation for Yoruba autonomy and promotion of Yoruba culture to violent confrontation with members of other ethnic groups resided in the South Western states in the name of vigilantism and crime-fighting.

How sure are we that Amotekun will not commit the same large-scale killings by the OPC in 2003. The clashes between OPC and other ethnic groups especially Hausas living in the southwest and how the southwest governors and the promoters of Amotekun will act to avert ethnic tensions which may likely arise. My concern on the formation of Amotekun is not personal but on safety of other ethnic groups living in the south west. There is likelyhood that members of Amotekun will commit large scale human right abuses based on ethnic differences. Finally, chairman of the South West Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said there is no going back on the operation of the regional security agency, Amotekun, which they are prepared to pursue to its logical conclusion. Governor Akeredolu emphasised that the governors of the region were committed to improved security and are particularly keen to address the rising wave of banditry, kidnapping and farmers and herders’ clashes. The stage is therefore set for a major confrontation between the Federal Government and the South West States.

I blame previous administrations for not doing the needful in making sure that the Nigerian federation is kept intact by ensuring that law and order are maintained. It is one of the important responsibilities of the federal government to bring peace and tranquillity in the nation. However, Federal Government has for decades ignored State governors setting up security agencies all in the name of supporting security agencies in their respective States.

Abba Dukawa, Public Affairs Analyst and Media Practitioner writes from Kano State.

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The grand finale of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign in Kogi State held on Thursday has been described as colourless, shameful and a celebration of mediocrity and bad governance.

The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated this on Thursday, noting that APC leaders including Governor Nasir el-Rufai; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman; wife of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari and others should cover their faces in shame that they could be campaigning for Governor Yahaya Bello, who had no single achievement to point at in four years.

The party called on Kogi State electorate to issue a red card to Bello and vote for a new dawn, which Mr. Musa Wada, its standard-bearer in the election represents, noting that it was funny that APC leaders could still be pointing accusing fingers at PDP four years after Yahaya Bello had been in the saddle with nothing to show for the huge resources accrued to the state.

The PDP described as shameful and saddening the action of the Kaduna State governor, El-Rufai, who knelt down to beg for forgiveness for Bello, warning the Kogi State electorate not to be deceived by the ‘crocodile tears’ being shed by those pleading for forgiveness for Bello.

According to the PDP, in a statement signed by the Director, Media & Publicity, Engr. Musa Wada/Sam Aro Campaign Organisation, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the fact that Bello could not point to any tangible achievement in four years but could only babble about Kogi being one, was enough evidence for the people of the state to sack him on Saturday.

The party added that Bello, an unrepentant bad administrator also lied to the entire world during the campaign that he owed no salaries even when the wife of the president and the national chairman were truthful enough to accept the reality that their candidate has failed workers and the citizenry in the state.

Similarly, the PDP said that it was vindicated in its call to OPC leader, Gani Adams and Yoruba traditional rulers to warn Fayemi to take his OPC thugs out of Kogi, noting that the APC campaign revealed the true state of things when Fayemi said he had come to pay Bello back for what he did during his (Fayemi’s) election.

“Today, the entire country watched the show of shame staged by the APC in Kogi State where the party owned up to its failure and irresponsibility in the state. The party’s leaders including Nasir el-Rufai; Hajia Aisha Buhari and Adams Oshiomhole all accepted that Bello should not and cannot be trusted to lead Kogi State ever again, because he is a let-down.

“Yahaya Bello has failed. He had no single achievement to point at in four years. And the APC campaign sold him out for who he is, a failure and a liar. This is enough evidence for our people to vote him out on Saturday.

“We urge our people not to be deceived by the actions of the APC leaders in begging for Bello; they cannot be trusted. The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo knew this much and that was why he boycotted the campaign. No well-meaning leader will campaign for a governance disaster, which Yahaya Bello embodies,” the PDP concluded

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The Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Value also tasked the leadership of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to put the necessary machinery in place so as  to ensure smooth operation and success of the agenda.

Speaking  as a special guest at the National Coordinating Council of the OPC held in Ogbomoso, Odebunmi averred  that  ” the  Inspector General’s pronouncement is a statement that OPC is a credible organization that is fighting  for the interest of Yorubaland”.

“Security is about information and networking. The OPC members reside in the society, with their involvement now, they will be able to embark on thorough surveillance activities in their areas which will help them and the police special squad to tackle and curb insecurity in the region.

“The Southwest governors should also ensure prompt provision of logistic and other necessary support for the team”, the lawmaker advised.

Speaking further, the APC lawmaker lauded  the Governors and the Inspector General of Police for deeming it fit to organise a security summit and coming out with a concrete resolution that will chase out criminals from the region.

Odebunmi,  however urged members of the OPC not to embark on jungle justice but handed over anybody found guilty of criminal offence to the appropriate authority.

In a related development, the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress OPC, Aare Gani Adams charged members to renew their charms and be ready to  work with police in combing the forest and fish out criminals in the region .

Adams expressed optimism that OPC will corporate with other organizations  as a team to restore safety of lives and properties in Yorubaland

He commended the lawmaker, Odebunmi for his commitment to his constituency and Ogbomosoland.

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DAILY POST reports that Olakunrin was last week Friday, killed by some suspected gunmen along the Ore-Sagamu Road.

But, OPC New Era in a statement issued by its National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adeshina Akinpelu, said failure to find the killers after the ultimatum, its members will embark on an operation to drive out all criminally-minded Fulani herdsmen, their accomplices among Yoruba and other tribes who are perpetrating crimes in all Yoruba speaking states.

Akinpelu said, “Time has come for us to act now. We will no longer fold our hands and allow herdsmen to continue to kill us like cows. We cannot continue to use the blood of our people to keep Nigeria’s unity. We are giving the Police and other security agencies 21-day ultimatum to fish out the killers of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin.

“Failure to fish out the killers, we will have no option than to take the destiny of our people in our hands and drive out all criminally-minded Fulani herdsmen, their accomplices among the Yoruba and other tribes perpetrating crimes in Yoruba land”, Akinpelu threatened.

The group, while accusing Fulani oligarchy of alleged plan to re-capture Yorubaland after failing in previous attempts in the past, stated that it would resist any attempt to cajole and silence Yoruba leaders for voicing their opinion on insecurity in the country

“We are aware that this is part of the grand conspiracy of the Fulani oligarchy to re-capture Yoruba land after failing in previous attempts in the past.

“These Fulanis were responsible for the fall of first and second Oyo Empires through cunning methods. Their third attempt which was real war was met with stiff resistance from the Yoruba people who drove them back after they reached Osogbo.

“The killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin is a part of a grand conspiracy of the Fulani oligarchy to silence some of our leaders from speaking the truth and making critical appraisal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government”, he said.

On Miyetti Allah’s call for the arrest of former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his open letter to the President, OPC warned the group to stop playing to the gallery and looking for scapegoat for their atrocities, noting that Obasanjo is not only a leader in Nigeria but an international figure that deserves the respect of all irrespective of tribe.

Akinpelu however stated further that the OPC was not in any way surprised by the Miyetti Allah’s call for the arrest of Obasanjo, disclosing that they have a great supporter in President Buhari.

The group then called on governors, elected political office holders and Yoruba leaders to come together and tackle the issue of insecurity in Yorubaland, stating that OPC and over 100 other groups are more than ready to do their part to achieve the needed peace in the South West region.

https://iso.keq.mybluehost.me/zamfara-govt-speaks-as-bandits-attack-village-kill-17-nigerians/

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Until recently that the states called Yorubaland begin to experience wanton killings of innocent farmers by herdsmen, the usual reports and experience that time were pockets of conflicts and inescapable feuds between one farmer and another herdsman. That time, it was difficult to describe the experience as social problem calling for urgent and collective action.

The farmers -herdsmen problem has taken a new dimension giving the rate of escalation and sophistication of arms and ammunition being deployed in the perpetration of the heinous crimes of kidnapping and communal strife.

As the situation is now in Yoruba speaking states, the spate of the organized crime of kidnapping has raised the tempo of ethnic nationalism. A good manifestation and prevalence of ethnic feelings was the recent proclamation and riot act read by Aare Iba Gani Adams, the leader of Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and Generalissimo of Yorubaland through which he has sent a signal to the whole world that Yoruba as an ethnic nationality is posed to wage war against the murderous herdsmen and kidnappers who have turned many people to aliens on their own lands.

The message he has tried to echo was that Yorubas are gradually becoming subjugated by armed invaders. Before now, South West is a safe haven for investors and business men from other geo-political zones.

From the media statements and body language of Aare Iba Gani Adams, incessant activities of the kidnappers in the south west has spun off ethnic sentiments and raised other national questions. With the kind of braveness which the leadership of Pan Yoruba Cultural Group (OPC) has mustered up, I am sure the invaders under whatever guises would have no other option than to retreat and look else where to thrive.

I must acknowledge that kidnappers who appeared to have completely taken over South West now live among us even if they are from neighbouring countries. And of course, the identity of these marauders may not be properly understood except our assessment and judgment are devoid of stereotype, prejudice and egocentrism.

We need to unravel the psychology and the mind sets of the kidnappers as a factor for consideration to actually understand the prevailing culture of ‘anything for money’ or quick money syndrome that has become a normative in the current social order. Through the narration by the victims of their ordeals in the hands of the kidnappers, how they usually get police and army uniforms remain a puzzle.

I share the pains and agonizing effects of kidnapping when I watched the video clip released by Hon. Bisi Ogungbemi, the Ondo State Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC). The video presentation is an eye opener to evil machination and sophistication of the kidnappers and armed bandits currently operating in major Yoruba Cities like Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo States.

Unarguably, the spate of the menace is now a source of nightmare to Yoruba leaders, for one can no longer sleep with the two eyes closed. And passing through our highways nowadays could result into uncontrollable perspiration and increase in ones blood pressure.

In a similar circumstance, Dayo Adewole, the son of the former Minister for Health was recently held in captivity by the suspected kidnappers at a gun point in Iroko, near Fiditi, in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State. Before Adewole could regain his freedom 24 hours after he was kidnapped,  the parents and family have to pay huge ransom according to reports.

A dimension to this kidnapping brouhaha which is comical were those ones conceived, planned and executed by the supposedly held captives themselves. Some of the reported cases we have heard in the recent past ended as cases of self -kidnapping by the victims themselves.

One particular case that could best be described as heart break news was the report of a Pastor of an orthodox church in Ekiti, Pastor Adegoke Adewuyi, that lodged himself in an hotel to draw ransom of three millions naira from his church members. Whoever watch the video clip of the arrest and self confession by the culprit, one will cry for this country.

If the advocacy by the OPC doesn’t receive the support of the traditional rulers, particularly in the South West,the zone will remain endanger, unsafe and haven of the kidnappers and bandits. Truly we have sufficient laws and with budgetary provision for security architecture annually, the success so far recorded by the security agencies in combating the menace of insecurity in the country is below public expectation.

Given the efforts which the nation’s security agencies have so far made to halt the spate of banditry and kidnapping in the country,nothing suggests that the culprits have seen the reasons to change and give peace a chance. Also,the war cannot be successfully waged and won using only legal instrument and moral control, we must equally pay attention to education, counselling, rehabilitation and value re -orientation.

Besides,each community must improve on security consciousness and awareness. There should be cooperation and synergy among the various social community to guarantee for us an effective social security devoid of devilish activities of the kidnappers and bandits.

Rahaman Onike, writes from Oyo town, Oyo state, a public affairs analyst

 (c) Mega Icon Magazine

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Also, the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), as gathered had earlier initiated plans to resolve the age-long rift between them in order to strengthen Yoruba’s grip of South West.

The group’s Vice President, Alhaji Wasiu Afolabi disclosed the plan at the APC’s Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu campaign office, in Ikeja, where he led thousands of members to endorse the party.

According to Afolabi, “we are fully ready to ensure APC win through our votes. Aside voting, we will ensure that no one disrupt the electoral process across the states”.

The move, as further learnt was launched by late founder of the Socio-Cultural group, Dr Fredrick Fasheun, before his demise, after realising that the Yoruba race were persistently short-changed in Nigeria’s political activities.

Afolabi added that the official declaration would have happened before his death as well, but efforts to actualise it broke down due to miscommunication.

“Let it be known that in the formation of OPC, the APC leadership played a role in bringing the dream of our founding father Dr, Fredrick Fasheun Iseotan, to reality towards the formation of OPC, so we are glad to be back home as a progressive people.

“It is a thing of joy and great achievement for OPC that our late founding founder Dr. Fasheun has resolved to put their differences aside with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and work together for the common interest of the Yoruba race and the whole South West. It is sad that Baba passed away when we were about to solidify the final agreement with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Be it that it may, we are resolute to continue from where he stopped and his dying wish was that wherever Asiwaju take us is where we shall go,and it has been decided that we OPC members should ensure victory for APC  in the entire south west and so shall it be”, the Vice President assured.

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No fewer than three suspected operators of the shrine were arrested with a POS machine used to extort anyone found guilty.

Also, recovered in the shrine were different banks Automated Teller Machine, ATM, cards and telephones suspected to have been seized from victims.

https://iso.keq.mybluehost.me/police-arrest-redeemed-pastor-involved-in-burial-of-murdered-boy/

It was also learnt that people visited the shrine to lodge complaints, after which the accused is either invited or forcefully dragged there. Residents further hinted that people were publicly tortured before being dragged inside the shrine to swear.

Mr Imohimi Edgal, the state Commissioner of Police, who led a team of policemen to the shrine on Tuesday ordered its immediate demolition.

Edgal disclosed that the Lagos State Neighbourhood Security and Safety Corps, LSNSC, informed the Command of some suspicious movement of persons in and out of the shrine, consequent upon which he directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ikeja to ascertain what was going on there.

The police chief,  Edgal while addressing journalists at the scene, said: “A team of undercover policemen, led by the DPO, mounted surveillance around the area.

“Yesterday, officials of the Neighbourhood Security Safely Corps saw a man, who was being dragged into the shrine.

“They were attracted to the place by the shout of help from the victim and alerted the DPO, who moved his men to the scene where three persons were arrested and the victim rescued.

“In as much as we believe in community policing and community partnership, I must sound a note of warning to any group of persons who may want to take laws into their hands, that the command will deal decisively with members of such groups”, he warned.

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Also, the dare – devil armed robbers, who stormed the Ekerin, Araunsan, Fatokun and Bako communities and raided about twenty different houses, were repelled by OPC led by the Chairman of the group in Ido Local Government Area, Alhaji Muritala Ifawale.

Mega Icon Magazine learnt that the armed robbers, numbering about twenty – five, carted away properties, including phones, laptops, jewelries and cash; and also injured some of the residents of the areas.

In Ekerin community, as gathered, the robbers invaded residence of one of the executives of the Landlords’ Association and demanded for the money contributed by landlords for the purchase of a new electric transformer.

Oyo Security Trust Fund boss charges residents to report unusual activities

The Landlords’ Association leader, who confided in our reporter, explained that the hoodlums threatened to kill him and his family members after he told them the money contributed for the transformer was not with him.

He stressed that the arrival of OPC members led by Comrade Muritala Ifawale, salvaged the situation, as the hoodlums quickly jumped out of his house on hearing the sound of gunshots.

The OPC also prevented the armed robbers from raiding more houses in the areas.

There were exchanges of gunshots between the robbers and OPC  members for about one hour, but the hoodlum reportedly took to their heels after exhausting their bullets.

Victims of the robbery attacks who reported the incident to police at the Omi-Adio Police station, blamed the invasion of the armed robbers on activities of churches in the communities.

Some of the victims who spoke with our correspondent under the condition of anonymity, said the noise from churches having night vigil programmes did not allow other residents to hear their shouts for help.

Corroborating him, one of the victims, who simply identified himself as Baba Deola, said the shouts of “Amen” and “Alleluya” that rented the air from churches in the area prevented neighbours from hearing their distressed calls

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