A notorious wanted leader has been arrested in Ijegun community in the outskirts of Lagos. The suspect identified as Semiu Abiola, was tracked down by the police and arrested for causing havoc in the area.
It was gathered that the arrest threw the resident into celebration but they allayed fear that their joy may be short lived because he might likely return soon and continue as he had done in the past. Thus, the residents rushed to the Isolo Magistrates court to beg the judge to keep Abiola in prison for peace to reign in the area.
The 25-year old Abiola was arrested along with one of his gang members, Rilwan Ayo Oluwa, following a carefully coordinated operation carried out by the police led by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, SP Rafiu Akinlade of Isheri Oshun Division. During the operation, Abiola a.k.a. Kingpin was arrested with Oluwa while other members escaped and were said to be at large.
It was gathered that Mr. Abiola used to be a member of National Union of Road Transport Workers before he travelled to South Africa and continued his violence and criminal activities there. He was caught and deported back to Nigeria.
However, by the time he returned there was no space again for him to operate in the National Union of Road Transport Workers and he decided to form a gang to cause havoc within the area and the entire State.
He was said to have intimidated the residents including the monarchs in the area before the residents went to the police station and contacted the DPO, Akinlade, who trailed him and arrested him.
P.M.Express reports that some of the residents followed the suspect to court and pleaded with the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Adegbite, of the Isolo Magistrates court through the prosecutor, Inspector Rita Momah, to detain Abiola in prison permanently for peace to reign in the community.
The residents alleged that since Abiola returned from South Africa, he had been causing havoc in the area before the latest arrest after the previous arrest as the DPP set him free.
The police alleged that Abiola went to Ijegun market in broad daylight and attacked the traders. He claimed ownership of the territory, damaged goods and property before the police intervened and arrested them.
One of the victims, Mr. Uche Ogene, was attacked and his property damaged before the police intervened with the assistance of other local security groups and overpowered them.
The court remanded him in prison after the prosecutor; Inspector Rita Momah informed the court on behalf of the residents that Abiola had been a terror in the area and objected to his bail.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A Adegbite, ordered him to be remanded in prison custody and asked the police to provide evidence to show the court that Abiola was a terror in the area.
She gave a short adjournment to enable the prosecutor to provide the evidence before the court about Abiola’s terror activities before the issue of bail will be considered.