Suspected Killers Of Policemen in Ondo Arrested For Illegal Oil Bunkering Agents of a private security guard in the waterside area of Ondo State, Gallery Security Services (GSS), have helped to arrest seven men suspected in the killing of nine police officers. The arrested men are also believed to be involved in oil bunkering.
The arrest came days after some hit men, believed to be members of this bunkering gang, killed nine policemen and took away their rifles in a riverine community near the border between Ondo and Ogun States. The nine policemen were initially pronounced missing, but their remains were later found in the border area called 'Abule Egba'. A source at the Gallery Security Services in Ese Odo area of Ondo State told us that the suspects were arrested at different locations in the area following useful tips provided by members of the community.
Our source disclosed that informants in the community informed the chairman of GSS, Mr. Bibipiri Ajube, that some armed men had arrived in their town with several rifles stolen that could have belonged to the murdered police officers. Mr. Ajube reportedly alerted members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) who moved in quickly to search for the suspected killers. However, the source said the suspects apparently got information that they were being trailed, and ran away. When they were finally cornered, they reportedly engaged the security agents in an exchange of gunfire that lasted for more than an hour before they were arrested at different locations. Some of the suspects in detention are Felix Iyayu, Austin Ebioye, Izufaye Legbe, Agabara Tiewe, and one man identified only as Tanmara.
A security agent claimed that the suspects have confessed to their involvement in illegal bunkering, but denied playing any role in the killing of the nine policemen. Even so, our source said the detained suspects claimed that the police officers were executed by three of their leaders known as “Agbala OC” and “Blackberry.” Both men remain at large.
A community leader in Ajapa, Isaac Inuesokan, pledged that the people were willing to provide information that would lead to the arrest of the fugitive kingpins. Mr. Inuesokan asserted that the community does not condone criminal acts, adding, however, that the people lacked the power “to confront the boys because they have guns. But we are ready to help security agents to arrest them by giving them useful information about where they are, since we know some of them.” The suspects have been handed over to the Ondo State police command for further investigation and prosecution.
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