The ancient Ogbomoso town in Oyo State yesterday rose for its son, Alhaji Abayomi Alaka, who is in a running battle with the police over the Badoo killings in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Alaka, who went home to see his parents, was escorted round town by a crowd.
His presence in Ogbomoso debunked the police claim that he was in hospital awaiting “surgery for enlarged testis”.
Alaka, who lives in Magodo, Lagos, was arrested on Monday and taken to a shrine where five graves were found. The police linked the graves to him, but the denied their ownership.
Alaka popularly called Alfa, relived his encounter with the police, saying they lied against him.
He said: “Some policemen came to my house two weeks ago and accused not only myself but other people including traditional rulers of sponsoring Badoo boys. They invited me to the station and later said they wanted to search my house. And this they did and they found nothing in my house. They also told me they heard I used to visit a shrine in Ikorodu and what is my mission there.
And I explained to them I go there for healing, and they said I must take them there. We got there, the owner of the shrine, one old baba is no more and the whole place is in disuse.
“And when we came back, they asked me to go since they couldn’t find anything. Surprisingly, four days ago, they came back around 11pm and told me their oga (DC Ops) wanted to see me urgently. When we got there, they said they wanted to visit all those listed by some Badoo boys and I must accompany them. We got to the palace of the Oba of Ikorodu, the Oba said he needed an official invitation.
“They were taking me around homes of suspected Badoo boys. They arrested two boys along. When they got to the Oba of Ibeshe, the Oba told them he will not follow them. They arrested one Baale. The following day, they said they wanted to go back to the shrine where I took them two weeks ago. As we were going I saw cameras and over 100 mobile police in about 15 vehicles. I asked them what have I done to warrant this, they said they were doing their job. They brought their cameras and started taking my shots. After all this embarrassment, I was asked to go home. I was not asked to write any statement. No person came to bail me. I was shocked when I saw it on the media where the DC Ops addressed media that the police have discovered Badoo shrine in Ikorodu. And that I was arrested and I am now in hospital waiting for operation. And here I am in Ogbomoso, whereas the police said in newspapers that I am in the hospital. “
Notable Ogbomoso indigenes received Alaka, who visited them at home.
Receiving Alaka in his home, former Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Shehu Babalola said the police were confused over the matter. He wondered why the police jumped into conclusion when they had no “concrete evidence” against Alaka.
Soun of Ogbomoso Oba Jimoh Oyewumi prayed for Alaka and advised him to be cautious.
Abayomi’s parents, Alhaji Lasisi Amao Alaka, 97, the Asiwaju Adinni of Ogbomoso and Alhaja Adijatu Alaka, 79, were distraught.
In tears, Pa Alaka said the police lied against his son to gain credibility.
He said: “This is the most painful side of my life to watch my son who is innocent being accused falsely and made to suffer because of the wickedness of some officers. This is very saddening and shocking. My son has no criminal record since he was born. It is all lies by the police. I know my God will fight for my son and punish all those behind this public ridicule.”
Alhaja Alaka absolved her son of having anything to do with Badoo boys. - The Nation
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