Ogun: Ijeja Community Absolves Masquerade From DPO's Death

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji

ABEOKUTA - Contrary to report attributing the death of a Divisional Police Officer attached to Ibara divisional headquarters in Ogun state, SP Femi Dada to the arrested masquerade at Ijeja in Abeokuta, the Odofin and acting Oluwo of Ijeja community, Chief Sunday Oluwole has refuted the claim, saying the late police officer's death was an act of God. 

The Odofin Ijeja said the widespread speculation was orchestrated by mischiefmakers who wanted to cause unrest and anarchy in the community. 

Chief Oluwole while speaking to journalists in Abeokuta on Sunday described the late Police officer has a thorough professional who has regard for the customs and traditions of the land, saying the untimely death has nothing with the masquerade that was arrested by men of the Ogun state Police command. 

He called on the Police to disregard the rumour attributing the DPO's death to the arrest of the masquerade.

THE ENCOUNTER NEWS recall that, the Ogun State Police Command last week arrested a masquerade at Ijeja area of Abeokuta for violating the social distancing order of the federal government. 

However, on Friday, the late police officer gave up the ghost after battling with unknown sickness for over two months. 

Chief Oluwole therefore, noted that, the recalcitrant masquerade had been reprimanded for violating the government directives, urging the people of the state to discountenance the rumour. 

"We commiserate with the entire police command in the state over the loss of the DPO. He was a complete gentleman and friendly Police officer. Highly cerebral and a thorough professional. 

"I want to use this opportunity to refute the rumour that is going on. It is not the Masquerade that killed DPO Dada. DPO Dada has been sick for about three months, however, his death is God wish. The widespread rumour is the handiwork of mischiefmakers who want to cause unrest and disharmony in Ijeja. 

"So, I want to appeal Ogun state police command to disregard the rumour that it is the masquerade that killed the police DPO. Nobody can kill anybody except God. We are law abiding citizens of Ogun state and we always comply with the directives of the state government. We don't know anything about the death of the DPO. 

"Even the Masquerade in question has been reprimanded in our traditional way. We have punished the masquerade and I think the he has learnt his lesson."

Similarly, the Ogun State Police Command has also dispelled rumour saying, it was ignorant of anyone to attribute the DPO's death to the arrest of the recalcitrant masquerade. 

The police command in a press statement by the Police PRO, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi maintained that, as at the time the masquerade was arrested, the late DPO was on sick bed at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba in Abeokuta. 

Oyeyemi therefore vowed that, the incident would not deter the state police command from carrying out its constitutional duty.