KOREDE FOGO
The Ogun State Police command, on Friday, arrested 13 arsonists for vandalising, looting and destroying an hotel that served as lodge for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
In a press statement by the public relations officer, Ogun Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, he said the arsonists were arrested in Itori area of Ewekoro Local Government for their roles in the wanton destruction of innocent people’s properties.
According to the release, the attack followed an accident that claimed the life of a motorcyclist after smugglers’ vehicle believed to be chased by men of customs knocked down the victim who allegedly died instantly.
He said, “The hoodlums immediately went berserk and started vandalizing vehicles of innocent passerbys. After setting ablaze some vehicles, the hoodlums moved to a popular hotel in the area where officers of Nigeria customs used to lodge and started looting and vandalizing the hotel.”
“Immediately, a distress call was made to the Police, the commissioner of police, Lanre Bankole, deployed men of special squad to the scene to collaborate with policemen from Ewekoro and other adjoining stations to bring the situation under control.”
“On getting to the scene, the hoodlums who attacked the policemen by throwing stones at them were eventually subdued and thirteen amongst them were apprehended.”
“The commissioner of police who was at the scene for on the spot assessment has vowed to make example of those arrested for others to know that it is barbaric to take laws into ones hand. He, therefore, directed that others who pertook in the darstardly act must be hunted for and brought to book.”