An elusive leader of a notorious gang allegedly responsible for a wave of violence in the last few years in the Mushin area of Lagos, Wasiu Akinwande [a.k.a Olori Eso], has been apprehended by the police in a raid that has been praised by many residents of the area....
Wasiu was arrested on Tuesday, after months of being on the run.
But some residents of the area have expressed fear that the gang leader might be released again without any prosecution just like the police did in the past.
He was said to have been arrested earlier in January after a renewed gang war in the area. Wasiu was arrested by policemen from the Area D Police Command, along with two other members of the gang identified as Afeez Kehinde and Mubo Jones at Daleko, Isolo and Olosha areas of Mushin.
He was said to have been released same day even though residents of the area believe there are enough evidence against him.
According to Punch, the suspect had once gone underground after a fake burial ceremony was held for him by members of his gang.
Sometime in 2011, during a violent clash between Wasiu's gang and residents of the community, he was also arrested but released soon after.
It was learnt that in order to allow him to go underground, members of his gang printed his obituary and even held a ceremony in his honour to 'announce' to the Mushin community that he was dead.
Few years later, residents said he suddenly resurfaced to continue his alleged attacks in the area.
In October 2015, Wasiu allegedly led a group of his gang members on a show of force to Ikeolu Street, Mushin. But by the time their incursion into the area was over, a pregnant woman named Ruka, who was selling noodles in front of her house, had been gunned down.
Ruka's husband was one of the individuals, who reacted to the arrest of Akinwande with jubilation.
The husband, Waheed, told Punch that, "I still remember that day like a dream. While everybody fled, my wife had no time to flee when Olori Eso and his gang came and started shooting in the area that day.
"But I am happy that the principal suspect in the murder of my wife is now in custody. I am glad. Many residents of Mushin are also happy. But should we continue to celebrate without the fear that he might be released? No.
"We are celebrating but at the same time afraid that he might be released the way he was arrested in January and released barely five hours after.
"You will realise that despite all the evidence against him, despite what people here know that he did, people around here would still be afraid of voicing out because they know there is the possibility of him being released to continue unleashing mayhem in area. This is why people are afraid to be happy that he has been arrested."
An earlier murder case against members of his gang, had culminated in the arrest and arraignment of a colleague of his, Alayode Abiola, AKA Aloma.
The case involved the murder of a nine-year-old girl, Aminat Lateef, who was killed by the gang's stray bullet in Fadeyi, Lagos, while returning from an errand on December 9, 2010.
At Ikeolu Street, residents reeled out allegations against Wasiu and his gang as they lauded his arrest.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity for fear of reprisals, alleged, "A member of their gang, who had just come back from prison in January 2014, decided to renounce his membership but Olori Eso's boys decided to kill him. The young man escaped with a gunshot injury to the hand.
"He was later hunted down and killed not long after that. Few years before that, a popular young footballer here called Isiaka, was also killed by the members of the gang the same day they held a peace talk with government officials. That is how ruthless the Olori Eso's gang members are."
But Lagos Police PRO, Dolapo Badmus, said the police had been on Wasiu's trail for a while before he was finally nabbed on Tuesday. They are hunting for other members of his group.
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