Ilasa Leaders panic, want police back

By Damilola Kushimo

Monday’s daredevil attack on Ilasamaja police station that left one policeman dead and another injured and six guns missing have sent the community into panic mode forcing the leaders to demand the return of the policemen.

The policemen had relocated to Area D headquarters in Mushin since the station was razed down during the EndSARS violence exposing the town to the reign of street cults.

The attacks, according to the residents, were goaded by the absence of police station in the community since the only police station, as well as the police post on Ajose Street had been burnt by the hoodlums during the EndSARS protest.

As at the time of going to the press, community leaders were still making frantic efforts to get a space that could be used as a temporary station so that with the policemen back in town everyone can sleep with the two eyes closed.

According to the councillor representing Ilasamaja Ward, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, in view of what is happening in the community and to avert preventable crisis, it has become so important for the stakeholders and government officials to meet and find the similarities in their reasons and reach an agreement on the provision of temporary place for the police to secure the community.

The bone of contention between the community and the council authority is which of the two uncompleted police stations in the community should be prepared for the police officers as a temporary station since both the community and the council have  standard structures on ground for the police station and both are situated in Ilasamaja International Market.

It was learnt that the community had raised funds to complete the police station abandoned in Ilasamaja Market when the market was relatively undeveloped because the now-burnt station was too small for the police and that the building had since been constructed to decking level.

However, the new developer kicked against the idea of citing a police station inside the market due to business reasons and this made the council initiate the construction of another structure on the outskirt of the market, adjacent to Alhaji Jimoh street.

During the stakeholders’ meeting held recently at Ilasamaja Public Health Centre, the Secretary to the Local Government (SLG), Hon. Emmanuel Olojede, reiterated the council’s readiness to complete the other one in order to swiftly relocate the police officers there.

Also in attendance at the meeting was the DPO of the division, SP Segun Rafiu who regretted the security challenge the community is facing.

He promised to relocate his men to the community anytime a suitable station is made ready, urging the community and the local government to reach a consensus soonest.

He stated: “We’ve been directed by the Commissioner of Police to accept anywhere the community provides for us as a temporary station. We are the ones that want to use the place. It’s an office not a house.”

Confirming that the absence of his men might have emboldened cults to go on rampage, Mr. Rafiu said he has been able to keep them away in the last seven months.

“I have a testimony that this is my seventh month in Ilasamaja. Since my assumption, no cultist has ever struck. Even during their 8/8 and 7/7 anniversaries, I was able to nip their trouble in the bud before anything. I’m just surprised that with this little issue now they have started disturbing and disorganising the community and that’s why I want to beg the elders that there is need for us to cooperate with the government and let’s make things fast.”

Speaking with ECHONEWS, the Baale of Ilasamaja Community, High Chief Fatai Abereijo, explained that there is a need for the community to meet with the council chairman to finalise discussion on which place to settle for, adding that the old structure might have to be used for another thing should the community finally settles for the one the council is building.

“My own suggestion is that we need to go back home and have a think-tank meeting with the local government chairman in order to have a way forward. The most important thing is that we really need a police station in Ilasamaja to curb all this insurgency.

“Within the small period of time that the police have not been here we’ve recorded all sorts of anarchy. So, we all need to rise up and pay heed to the clarion call. Right now we need a station either front or back. Either the one we built or the one built by the government, the important thing for us is to have a police station as possible as it can be.”

The idea of meeting the council chairman was supported by the PCRC chairman, Elder Tundeola Falujo who explained that the community is scared due to the heightened insecurity in the community, advising that individuals in the community have to be vigilant and always be on the alert for any security emergency.

He recalled how the PCRC and community residents tried hard to repel the hoodlums during the daytime before they relaunched their attack at night.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Ilasamaja police station has agreed to temporarily relocate to Ilasamaja Market while waiting for the local government to complete the permanent one.