Shogunle DPO denies raids on youths
By Edith Igbokwe
The Divisional Police Officer DPO), Shogunle Police Division, CSP Madu Muhammed, has denied the allegation by the youths in Shogunle area of Oshodi, claiming that the police from the station randomly arrest them as Yahoo Boys.
The youths under the aegis of Shogunle Youth Forum have alleged that some police officers and SARS officers within the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government have been terrorizing them for the past four months, arresting any well-dressed youths illegally.
In a petition jointly written by the youths to the Commissioner of Police and copied to Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Hon. Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh and other stakeholders, the youths appealed to the concerned security stakeholders to caution the police from arresting them illegally.
One of the youth leaders, Comrade Oluwatosin Timothy told ECHONEWS that police invade Ajisegiri Street often to hunt the youths, picking innocent boys and tagging them to be Yahoo boys.
His words: “Any well dressed youth with bag, the police will catch and they will search the bag, pockets and go through his phone despite the fact that they have been told not to check through people’s phone.”
The petition reads: “Dear Honourable members and Stake Holders of the Community and Society. We are using this medium to call on the chairman of our local govt to please come to our aid in Shogunle Ward, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government before the youths are totally annihilated.
“As law abiding citizens, we have had enough of the intimidation, harassment and frustration from some officers of the Shogunle Police Station. It has now gotten to a point that they have abandoned their statutory duties and now indulge in harassing almost every youth on the street with a general presumption that they are internet fraudsters, popularly known as (Yahoo Yahoo).
“This (sic) various attacks and harassment happens during the day and night and most especially at a premise generally known as Iya mallam area at Oyegunwa. They comfortably stop every young lad carrying on his daily business or with a school bag and also search through their phones without consent at gun point despite the numerous public sensitisations by the Inspector General of Police to the contrary, that are against such attitude. (Recent one was that as announced by one officer Opetodolapo, a very well respected senior female officer at the zone 2 station Onikan).
“These officers will stop at nothing to harass and obtain cash from their victims even if the victims properly identify themselves to them via different identification means. Recently, a young lad was unlawfully apprehended and he was accused of using a famous football coach picture which was his wallpaper as a scam. (Jose Mourinho is the wall paper).
“The youths are getting fed up as their right being trampled upon is unbecoming from some of the officers at the Shogunle Police Station. Youths cannot sit outside their respective houses freely again for the fear of unlawful apprehension by the SARS.
“We call on every stakeholder in the community to come to our aid and make a stop to this illegality.
“We remain committed to the rule of law, and to the peaceful co – existence of members in the community.”
However, the DPO, Shogunle Police Division, CSP Madu Muhammed declared that the allegation is untrue.
He explained to ECHONEWS that there were no entry records that showed arrest of Yahoo boys in his division.
“I don’t have any Yahoo boy suspects in my cell and I will still verify from my patrol teams in that area,” he said.
