BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have arrested one of the hoodlums who allegedly ambushed a police team deployed to the warring Osun communities, opened fire on the officers and also set their patrol vehicle ablaze.
The suspect, Saheed Kareem, aged 40, was accused of conspiring with others at large and attempting to murder the Divisional Police Officer of Ilobu, SP Akanmu Adebowale and six other police officers by shooting them and setting their vehicle on fire during the Ilobu and Ifon-Osun communal clash between September 17 and October 4, 2023.
It was gathered that the seven security agents sustained varying degrees of injuries. While some had been treated at the hospital they were rushed to, others were said to be on admission as at the time of this report.
Kareem was also accused of attacking residents of the two communities during the land boundary clash that claimed about eight lives and also destroyed property including houses and shops.
The Point had reported that several houses and shops were set ablaze by hoodlums while many residents of the communities were displaced.
After investigation, the suspect was dragged before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court and slammed with twelve count-charges bordering on conspiracy, felony, attempted murder and serious assault.
Some of the counts read, “That you Saheed Kareem and others now at large, on the 17th day of September and 4th day of October 2023, at about 6:30am at llobu, Osun State triable in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Attempted Murder and Serious Assault and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“That you Saheed Kareem and others now at large, on the same date, time. place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully shoot one SP Akanmu Adebowale with a gun, a police officer while performing his lawful duty and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun state of Nigeria 2002.
“That you Saheed Kareem and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully have in your possession twenty three cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 514 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did willfully and unlawfully damage a Police Patrol Vehicle and also set it on fire, property of the Nigeria Police and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun state of Nigeria 2002. Section 451 of the Criminal Code
“You did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by arming yourselves with guns and other dangerous weapons and terrorizing innocent citizens of Ilobu community and engaging in destruction of their properties and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun state of Nigeria 2002.”
The police prosecutor, ASP Elisha Olusegun, identified other officers who were shot as ASP Aborisade Oluyemi, Sgt. Adeleke Damilere, ASP Saidu Jimoh, Inspector Ake Gbenga, Cpl Makanjuola Omisore and PC. Rauf Sheriffdeen
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara ordered the defendant to furnish the court with a formal bail application.
Ayilara ordered that Kareem be remanded in the Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till December 5 for mention.
