COVID-19 Lockdown: Rights Group Expose Violation of Social Distancing Law in Ogun Community

   …..Wants State government,IGP intervention over alleges DPO complicity

A human rights organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has exposed the alleged violation of social distancing law of Ogun State government nay Federal Government of Nigeria over the outbreak of the global Pandemic Coronavirus code named COVOD-19.

The group raised the concern over the few days illegal coronation of Olori Odo(Youth Leader) of Ihunbo, Ipokia Local Government area of the State by one Mr. Joseph Olamide Adesiyan with Phone number:-08034829144, where  mammoth crowd was gathered to witness the occasion in deffiance of government directive on such gathering.

 It was learnt that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Idi-Iroko Police Division,Mr. Sunday Opebiyi with Phone number:-08023347248, granted the organizers to go ahead with the illegal coronation during the current Coronavirus Pandemic ravaging the country, particularly,where Ogun State was among the spotted State in the country for the spread of the virus.

Calling for the urgent intervention of the State government and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammed Adamu, through a signed statement by the CHRSJ’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman and copies were made available to newsmen on Friday.

He urged the IGP to investigate the illegal Coronation held on 31st of March 2020 with crowded more than hundreds and illegal Oro traditional festival held on 19th -20th of April,2020 against the government directive on such festival, adding that such a festival was organized by the organizers to loot the peoples’ property as recorded in 2019.

According to CHRSJ, it complaint against the unprofessional conduct of DPO Opebiyi by planning to turn the informants on the said illegal gathering as directed by the State government, into suspects as reflected in the Police Invitation Letter dated 2st of April,2020 and signed by DPO through Inspector Crime of the Police Station with Phone number:-08023710773.

Explaining the incident, CHRSJ disclosed that Mallam Akeem Babatunde with Phone number:-08137158691 reported the illegal gathering to the Police authority at Idi-Iroko Divisional Police Station but instead of DPO Opebiyi to act in line with Federal and State Government and IGP directive on illegal social gathering order ,he look other way round because the organizers of the illegal Coronation has reached out to him through the back door.

Also reported the matter to the Control room of State Command of the Police at Eleweran on Phone number-08081770416, were one Mr. Olasunkanmi with Phone number:-09034468234, where it was learnt that the State Police authority gave a marching order to the DPO to arrest the situation but fail to act until 21st of April,2020 when he wrote an invitation letter to those who reported the development to his(DPO) office instead to invite the organizers of the illegal Coronation and Oro Festival for punitive measure in line with government and IGP directive.

Among those who organised the illegal Coronation and Oro Festival were; Mr. Joseph Olamide Adesiyan with Phone number:-08034829144,Akinola Samuel :-08033664120,Bashiru Ogunjobi(Ajana Oro):-08035254024, Musiliu Ogundare:-08060798251, Akinola Samod:-08060450586, Akinola Abel:-08130675663 and Alagbe Elijah:-07044858283.

Others were; Jimoh Sangoyomi,Akanbi Monsuru,Bioku Isiaka(Soku),Abiodun Paul,Ajala Wale,Adisa Alagere and Akinola Abiodun.
It was also learnt that DPO Opebiyi has been bragging that those informant  invited would  end up in prison after taken them to Eleweran Headquarters of the State Police Command in Abeokuta and the invitees  were not committing any offence than reporting the illegal gathering to higher Police authority.

Those invited with Akeem Babatunde ,according to the Police Invitation Letter are; Mr. Monday Olamide,Mr. Deji Ilobe,Mr. James Sunday,Aina Ibrahim and Jelili Akanbi.

Other invitees are; Akande Fadairo,Idowu Togbeji,Noah Aregbe and Sunday Ademola.

Comrade Sulaiman, reiterated the call on the Ogun State government and the State Commissionerof Police to investigate those attended the illegal Coronation during the social distancing order for possible prosecution and immediate quarrantine in order to mitigate the community spread of Coronavirus in the area.

Signed:
Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman,(Revolutionary Alfa),Executive Chairman, CHRSJ,+2348038591504/ +2348022697573
For Confirmation of the StoryMr. Olasunkanmi-09034468234 Inspector Crime Idi-Iroko Police Division-08023710773Ogun State Police Command Control room-08081770416.
Attached with the story are;1-Police Invitation Letter2-Oro Man,Musiliu Ogundare-080607982513-Corronation of Olori Odo with crowdAnd others