ABEOKUTA – The Ijere Onigbedu community in Mowe, under Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun state has accused one Sulaimon Adelakun for allegedly terrorizing their community with armed men to claim possession of their lands, calling on the state government to come to their rescue.
According to the community leader, Rev. Olatunji Abiodun Akinyemi said Adelakun, who is currently facing criminal charges at the Chief Magistrate Court, Owode Egba, led a group of armed thugs to invade the Ijere Onigbedu area via Mowe, Ogun State, leaving two members of the land-owning families, Wale Oyedeji and Ibrahim Shagari, missing.
At a joint press interview on Friday, the head of Akinyemi Ogundimu family of Ijere Onigbedu and also the community leader, Rev. Olatunji Abiodun Akinyemi accused Adelakun of masterminding the attack, which they claimed was part of a long-standing land dispute.
The family said despite his criminal record and ongoing court case, Adelakun has continued to wreak havoc, and his latest attack has left the community in fear.
Rev. Akinyemi urged the state government to see Adelakun as a security risk and deal with him decisively, to prevent further violence and bloodshed.
“We have obtained a High Court judgment and an Appeal Court judgment in our favour, affirming our rightful ownership of the land.
“However, Sulaiman Adelakun, a notorious land grabber and thug, has continued to harass and intimidate us, using a group of youths from the community whom he has recruited and armed.
“Adelakun and his gang have escalated their criminal activities, even resorting to robbery and stealing valuable belongings from one of our community members.
“While we appreciate the efforts of the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu, and his team, who have tried to intervene, more needs to be done to ensure our safety and security in the community.”
According to sources who pleaded anonymity for fear of being attacked, said Adelakun has history of violence and intimidation, and has been using his thugs to terrorize communities and take over their land.
He said Adelakun’s actions have been described as a threat to peace and security in the state, and his continued freedom has been seen as a slap on the face of justice.
“Sulaiman Adelakun’s modus operandi involves the use of firearms, specifically guns loaded with live cartridges, to intimidate and harm anyone who dares to oppose him during his violent attacks.
“We are demanding that the government and the security agencies should take immediate action to protect us from Adelakun’s terror and ensure that he faces the full wrath of the law.”
THE ENCOUNTER NEWS in a video evidence obtained from the community, some armed thugs suspected to be Adelakun’s boys, stormed Ijere-Onigbedu community last week in a grey Lexus 350 XL Jeep stormed the community with dangerous weapons such as cutlass, long rifle gun, and double barrel dane gun to scare residents of the community.
THE ENCOUNTER NEWS also obtained a sworn affidavit by Sulaimon Adelakun admitting to have acted as land agent and involved in thuggery, forceful occupation of land, threat with violence which was unacceptable to the people of Ogbeni land and Onafemi Owode.
The sworn affidavit with charge number MOO/149/22 at the Ogun State Magistrate court, Abeokuta read as follows:
“That I am the Defendant in charge Number MO0/149/22 which is currently pending before the Chief Magistrate Court Owode/ egba Ogun
State.
“That I have at various times acted as land agent for various persons in
various villages in and around Obafemi/Owode Local Government of Ogun
State.
“That my activities in those places which sometimes involve, thuggery, forceful occupation of land, threat with violence have been disliked and non-acceptable to the people of Igbein land and the entire Obafemi/Owode Local Government of Ogun State.
“That in fact, it is one of those my unacceptable acts that led to the Charge
No MOO/149/22 been brought against me.
“That I now make this oath making a firm promise never to involve in any unacceptable acts or activities that could disrupt the peace of the people of Obafemi/Owode Local Government forever again.”
Meanwhile, all efforts to reach Sulaimon Adelakun proved futile, as our reporter was unable to get his mobile number for immediate reaction.
This medium shall however, be willing to publish Adelakun’s reaction after filing this report.
