Living in the ancient town of Oyo, in Oyo State, South West Nigeria has become challenging and tough. In recent years, many residents of the once peaceful town have had to grapple with the repulsive activities of armed gangs, which allegedly enjoy the support of some of its most prominent leader.
Investigation by PREMIUM TIMES, spanning weeks, revealed that these gangs forcefully impose “taxes,” rob the residents and unleash mayhem on those who refuse to obey their “laws.” The situation has made business activities in the town difficult.
In Oyo, the seat of the Alaafin, different areas like Ilaka, Iseke, Akeetan, Akesan (garage), Agunpopo and Isale-Oyo have become hot spots, commonly known as “bases”, and are now occupied by thugs with capacity and penchant for extreme violence.
Recently, the ‘Ilaka’ gang led by Deji Oga-Ade attacked one Alhaji Memudu who now battles sight-threatening injury. A 15-year-old Senior Secondary School 2 student, name withheld, was also allegedly raped by Yemi Ojebode, the gang leader of Gbafoba base at Isale Oyo.
In 2016, Akesan market had been shut twice as rival gangs unleashed violence, destroying property and inflicting injury on people.
Combat ready, thugs brazenly gather at these bases and smoke outlawed marijuana in the full glare of the public. In Ilaka, Garage, and Iseke, PREMIUM TIMES noticed that the air was filled with hemp smoke even though it was a hot afternoon.
“You can’t just pass through Garage without inhaling marijuana smoke; it is like one even smokes,” the commercial motorcyclist conveying this reporter said in Yoruba language.
..Multiple sources, including the police, residents and community leaders, confirmed that the thugs have severally unleashed violence on their respective strongholds, destroying property, sacking markets and injuring people.
“ARMED WITH GUNS”
The situation in Oyo town goes beyond just bizzare gathering of thugs in open places, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol.
For Akesan traders, the biggest nightmare is the thought that rival gangs could unleash violence on the market used as a battlefield whenever the Ilaka gang have a fight with their rivals.
Whenever this happens, Lati Tunji explained to PREMIUM TIMES, the market would be shut down for most of the day.
“We (traders) will have to close as they will be on rampage attacking everybody,” he said.
“Everywhere in Oyo, you see bases where thugs sit day and night,” a resident, Abiola Adisa, said. “This makes one to live in fear because anytime these boys could start fighting.”
“I live at Akesan; so, I am a witness to their fights,” Mr. Adisa added; “they use guns, not just machetes and bottles.”
Guns were freely used when the Ilaka and Agunpopo gangs fought themselves on January 4.
The teenage rape victim said that she was threatened with a gun by Mr. Ojebode before unwillingly submitting her to the allegedly criminal action.7
“And this is why it may be right to say these guys are responsible for cases of robbery and murders in Oyo,” Olanrewaju Mohammed, a banker and Treasurer of Oyo Global Forum, said.
“Of course they use guns when fighting. But besides that, when you have young men sit and smoke, use good items of clothing without any job, they must be making money from robbery.”
Apparently conscious of legal implications of their attacks and possession of deadly weapons, the thugs, particularly those from Ilaka, usually wear masks, witnesses said.
Recalling a recent incident, Kehinde Ikeola, told PREMIUM TIMES, “I saw the Ilaka boys when they were emerging from their base, numbering about 120. I believe they were joined by their “comrades” from other bases in solidarity.
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