- Police Hope to Unravel Mystery with Recovered Gun |
| Ronke Kehinde |
Criminal investigators have taken a step further after unmasking a politician who allegedly dashed his thug a gun that ended up in the hands of suspected armed robbers.
Detectives at Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Lagos are now analysing the gun with forensic ballistic experts hoping that it could be the key to unravel the mystery surrounding some political assassinations in Ekiti State.
Ekiti had witnessed seven assassinations in the last four years.
The ongoing investigation started like a child’s play on March 5, 2014, after a gang of armed robbers raided the home of a University Don in Egbeda, Lagos. They left with laptop computers, jewellery, cash, mobile phones, Camry and Toyota Avalon cars.
Following prompt action by officers attached to FSARS, the cars were recovered and two suspects, identified as Audu Akeem and Emmanuel Ambrose, were nabbed. They were paraded at Adeniji Adele police station, in Lagos.
But the story did not end there.
Police took the investigation further, and it ended with a twist in the tail.
According to detectives, one of the stolen phones was tracked to a buyer, who also bought other stolen goods that he didn’t have enough cash to pay for, so he decided to do a trade by barter with a locally made pistol that the politician had dashed him.
“They raided a house in Lagos and sold the stolen properties to a man, who didn’t have enough money to pay for the stolen household items; so, he paid some cash and added a gun pending further payment. The gun he gave to robbers was the one that his boss gave him,” an officer told Chief Detective adding that the ongoing investigation could bring fresh insights into series of killings in Ekiti.
According to records, those assassinated since 2010 in Ekiti included Adeleye Awolumate at Moba on November 18, 2010; Michael Ipinlaye and Kehinde Fajuyi at Ekiti East on March 3, 2011; Teslim Abiola at Ekiti State University Campus, Ado Ekiti, on September 26, 2012; Ayo Jeje at Erijiyan, Ekiti West on March 30, 2013; Mrs. Juliana Adewumi, shot at her Erijiyan home on March 30, 2013, and Folusho Ogundare, who was killed at Emure Ekiti on November 3, 2013.
During the police parade on June 26, 28-year-old Ajewole Omoniyi, who allegedly did barter with the armed robbers, said: “I’m a political thug. My Honourable gave me one small gun. My Honourable is Odeyemi Itunu. He gave me the gun to guard him because of politics. He gave me the gun in Osun State, at Ilesha, last year around August. I’ve done nothing with the gun because the time has not come to use it. We’re supposed to use it during election time. I was arrested before Ekiti election. They pay me salary – N50, 000 monthly. And every day they assist me when I need money.
His boss, Odeyemi Itunu, said: “I picked the gun from the ground during fracas in our local government in 2007. I gave him for political reason. I am Executive Assistant to Ekiti State governor, Dr. Fayemi. I engaged this man because government gave me one slot to give anybody that I like. It’s appointment. I engaged him as P.A.”
When he was asked about his educational qualification, Itunu said: “I was doing a National Diploma course at Osun State College of Technology. I didn’t graduate.”
The robbery suspects paraded with Itunu and Omoniyi allegedly belong to a syndicate that was dealing in stolen cars and household items across Nigeria and outside the country.
Other members of the syndicate were arrested while the police were investigating the theft of 17 exotic cars including two that were stolen in Ile Ife over a year ago.
Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Mba told a news conference on June 26 that the Officer in Charge of FSARS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Chris Ezike had embarked on a discreet, sustained and painstaking investigation that led to the recovery of the 17 cars.
The police also recovered two locally made single barrel pistols and assorted ammunition.
“Consequently, the arrest of Ajewole, a 28-year-old male from Ilesha and his evidence upon interrogation led to the arrest of other gang members namely: 20-year-old Oluseye Idowu Jacob, who is also from Ilesha in Osun State; Oluwadamilare Rasaki, Ajisafe Olawale, Ogunniyi Sunday, Tolani Babatunde aka Biggy, Abubakar Umar aka Barry, Odeyemi Itunnu aka Gomina and Ayodeji Olumudi,” Mba said.
While commending the FSARS detectives for their commitment, diligence and professionalism which led to the breakthrough and subsequent recovery of the stolen items, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, enjoined Nigerians to continue to support the Police with relevant information, as he called on all those who had lost their vehicles in the recent past to come forward and check the recovered ones with their proof of ownership.
On the list of the recovered items are: Toyota Highlander SUV Model 2008 marked GWA-489-BC, Toyota Matrix, 2007 model (RSH-196-DA) and other personal effects belonging to the said victim; Toyota RAV-4 (EPE-477-AC), two unmarked Toyota Highlander SUVs, two unmarked Toyota Saloon cars, 2012 model; one unmarked Toyota Camry, 2009 model; Toyota Avensis saloon car (EKY-989-AX), Mercedes Benz E-Class 350 Series (LND-919-EC), Honda Accord Coupe (EKY-857-CH), and Toyota Camry (YEN-902-S Y).
Others are Toyota Highlander (GWA-489-BC), Toyota Camry (AKD-882-AC), one unregistered Sienna Bus and one unmarked Toyota RAV-4, 2009 model.
Meanwhile, the police are performing gunshot residue analysis as they dust the Ekiti serial murder files hoping that the recovered pistols would be the crucial missing link to solving the crimes.
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