Ibadan forest of horror: Police is yet to arrest main suspect

IBADAN–Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa said yesterday that the prime suspect in the Soka kidnappers’ den in Ibadan was yet to be arrested.

He said this while speaking with newsmen at the State Police command, Eleyele, Ibadan.

The CP also hinted that three suspects had already been arraigned before a magistrate court in connection with the incident.

He dismissed rumour that the incident had been swept under the carpet.

While pledging that the police would get to the root of the matter, he advised residents in the city not to hoard any information at their disposal but should always keep the police informed about any criminal activities in the state.

Justifying that the police were working round the clock to get all the suspects arrested, he added that it was the efforts of his men and officers of the state command that led to the arrest of seven suspects.

Meanwhile, when Vanguard visited the kidnappers’ den, the directive given by Governor Abiola Ajimobi that all structures on the land be demolished was yet to be complied with.

Vanguard gathered that since the day the police authorities ordered that the demolition be put on hold for forensic experts to collect samples, nothing concrete has been done.

When asked why the structures had not been demolished, the Special Adviser to the governor on media, Dr. Festus Adedayo said they were still waiting on the police to conclude investigations.

For fear of being turned to hoodlums’ hideouts, residents in the area have made a fresh appeal to the governor to ensure that the place be cleared.

Speaking to Vanguard, the community leader in the area, Mr. Isiaka Bello Olupoju said since the bulldozer left the scene about three months ago, there was nothing done on the land again.

“We are afraid that the place could be used by hoodlums again. As you can see,” he said.

it has been overgrown by bush. Anytime from now, miscreants could turn the place to their use once again. We want the government to dig the place as promised, clear the land and convert it to a market where our people can buy and sell”. (Vanguard)

 

Ibadan forest of horror: Police is yet to arrest main suspect

The true face of horror in Ibadan! Bow, knife expose herdsmen as suspects

Everybody who got to the ‘evil forest’ in Ibadan, Oyo State capital where hundreds of people have been killed by kidnappers was stunned to speechlessness seeing the number of decomposed bodies of victims.

Call the place the Soka house of horror, a den of killers, the place of skull, the evil shrine, the valley of dry bones, killers’ hideouts, you will not be wrong. No adjective or description is too much to express the horror there. In the isolated bush, life is hellish, brutish, loutish and nasty. It is distasteful, barbaric and fetish. It is better read and heard than seen.

If you go there once, you could find it difficult to have your meal. Flies of different sizes and colours were feasting on the bodies. The bodies were in different positions. The odour was unbearable. The land brings to mind David’s statement when he heard about the death of his bosom friend, Jonathan, “Tell it not in Gath or publish it in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph”.

Chief Isiaka Bello Olupoju, a community leader in the area who was not sure of the exact number of people killed, put the figure at about 120 persons.

Apart from the atrocities committed in the den, the incident raises a serious security concern.

Alleged connivance

It is indefensible for residents in the area to claim ignorance of the activities of the kidnappers. The stench oozing from the decomposed bodies was a strong indication that nobody in the area could claim ignorance.

A woman, who spoke in the presence of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said the matter had been reported at Sanyo Police Station several times. She said some policemen either said the place had been set aside to take care of the destitute who had become a nuisance in the city or it didn’t fall under their jurisdiction.

Another source said they always saw some people moving up and down particularly herdsmen. He said the police should investigate the herdsmen. To fuel suspicion that the herdsmen might know something about the  killings there, a knife and a bow commonly used by cattle rearers were found close to one of the decomposed bodies. The knife was still looking fresh as at Tuesday indicating it was just dropped there.

Besides, a company populated by foreigners where the vehicles or motorcycles conveying the victims always pass should know something about the isolated bush. The building of the company is tall and so should afford the persons staying inside to have a glimpse of what is going on in the bush.

Arbitrary arrests and shooting

Sunday Vanguard saw the body of a woman identified simply as Kafayat, pregnant and said to be a mother of three, who was allegedly killed by an overzealous security man during the protest that followed the uncovering of the bush. She was said to have left her wares at Agodi Gate where she operated a shop to have a glimpse of the horror when she was felled by stray bullet.

Apart from seven suspects earlier arrested as confirmed by the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olabisi Ilobanafor, three other suspects were rounded up in the area.  Sunday Vanguard gathered from a security man that a mob made up of youths, angered that the police failed to uncover the bush of horror, was coming to set the Sanyo Police Station ablaze.

This prompted policemen to guard the station. Anybody coming from the Lagos end of the expressway towards Iwo Road without an Identity card was picked up as a suspect. An Okada man, who proved difficult for two policemen trying to pin him down, was beaten blue and black as about eight policemen descended on him with gun butts and boots.

He was thereafter arrested. Before Ajimobi got to the scene, it was gathered that five more bodies had been taken away and also a boy who was trying to dig the hall to locate some of his missing relatives was reportedly shot by security men guarding the place. When arraigned in court one day after, the court could not find any cogent reason why the suspects should be remanded in custody. They were released on bail in the sum of N100, 000 each.

How the den was discovered

After several failed attempts to find their missing ones, commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, mobilized in hundreds and stormed the kidnappers’ den. On getting there, they raised the alarm seeing numerous bodies of victims.

Ajimobi revokes right to land

When Governor Ajimobi got to the scene, the crowd was unruly. He had to talk tough to get the people to listen to him. He said, “As from today, the state government has revoked the land from its owners. We would dig all the land and expose any victims hidden in the ground. God would expose them. We, into whose hands you have entrusted the governance of this state through your votes, God will use us to punish the culprits”.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, assured the crowd that he would do everything to get all the suspects.

Survivors in hospital

Doctors at Adeoyo State Hospital, Ibadan, where victims who survived the ‘evil forest’ horror were admitted for treatment, did not allow journalists’ access to the survivors. After much pressure, the hospital officials and security men there, however, allowed some newsmen to have a brief chat with the survivors but they did not allow anybody to take pictures.

The survivors, who identified themselves as Nafiu Shittu, Michael Ola, Mrs. Titi Adeniyi, nee Dokpesi and Wale Atoyebi, gave indications that the kidnappers, who operated in the bush, capitalized on the urban renewal initiative of the Oyo government to arrest some hawkers under the pretext that they violated the state environmental law even though they did not have the authority of government to do it. Shittu recalled how he was kidnapped. He said he was selling concoction at Agodi Gate when he was accosted by some men who forced him into a waiting car.

Titi Adeniyi-nee Dokpesi said she was forced into a vehicle in front of her house and later found herself in the den.

She said, “I am from the compound of the late Baba Awolowo located in Oke Bola area of Ibadan. Some people kidnapped me while I was sitting in front of our house. Nobody was around then. My people were in Lagos. They said I was wanted somewhere and that they came to arrest me. They then took me away in their vehicle. Later, I found myself in that forest”. The survivor said she could not tell if people were being killed in the forest by the kidnappers.  ”I don’t know whether people were being killed or women giving birth. Where they kept us was where I used to be. Once I covered my head with my dress, I would sleep off”.

As if that was not enough, three human tongues were allegedly found on three men at Oni and Sons Hospital area of Ibadan in a cellophane bag. After being mobbed, the men were handed over to the police.

 

The true face of horror in Ibadan! Bow, knife expose herdsmen as suspects

Ibadan forest of horror: Whistle blower okada rider still missing

THE whereabouts of a commercial motorcyclist popularly called Okada rider, who blew the lid on the evil at the Ibadan forest of horror is still unknown.

His name is Kazeem and it was he who sent distress text messages to friends and colleagues while being held captive at the forest.

Unfortunately, he was not among the victims rescued by people and minions of law at the forest. And seven days after the Saturday’s discovery of the evil forest, curious residents and colleagues of Kazeem said they would not give up until their missing colleague is rescued from the jaws of kidnappers.

As at Tuesday, his colleagues claimed they still received test messages from him asking them to rescue him from the kidnappers’ den. Already, a search party has been launched for the Okada rider by his colleagues and relatives, who many believe could still be alive, in the forest with nine others.

A source, who asked not to be named, said: “Kazeem is a commercial motorcyclist and was lured by one of the kidnappers to the site. Unknown to his captors, he had hidden a cell phone which he used to send distress text messages to people. “He used his phone to contact some of his colleagues and gave them the description to the site of horror. That was how we came to this forest to search for him. We have searched everywhere but could not find him. We have also called his phone severally after but we could no longer reach him. He might have been killed in the forest.’’

One of the Okada operators, who is also a member of the search team, Mr. Babayemi Farinu, described his kidnapped colleague as gentle and focused.

Another Okada operator, Dapo Abbey, who spoke with The Nation yesterday, said: “We all came here to show solidarity and to fight agents of darkness. It is not because we know him, he is not under our unit, but he is our colleague because he is an Okada operator.

“His name is Kazeem and he is from Olomi area. From what we gathered from people who know him, he is such a gentle and diligent person. He was said to have brought two passengers here last Saturday but ended up being kidnapped. He has been sending distress calls since Saturday, and this afternoon, we learned that he sent text messages to people.

What that means is that he is still being held somewhere in this forest with others,” he said.

“That is why we appealed to policemen to help us to search for him,” said another commercial motorcyclist, who gave his name as Ade. Nasiru Akeem, a member of Soka Unit of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), described the disappearance of their member as very painful and unfortunate.

“When we rushed to the forest based on the distress call from Kazeem, we searched everywhere, including the building where some of the victims were found, but we couldn’t find him. Some of us shared ourselves into groups and moved deeper into the forest where we discovered more horrifying sights. We have also been to the police in an effort to arrest the fleeing kidnappers. At the moment, we have embarked on prayers and fasting because we believe that God will make it possible for us to locate his whereabouts.

“We have no doubt that he is still alive; soon God will touch the hearts of his abductors and save his life”, he added.

Some roadside mechanics, who ply their trade a few metres away from the horrific site, expressed disbelief and shock at the discovery. Soka is one of the new residential areas on the outskirts of Ibadan where the forest is located.

Part of the forest was occupied by some construction firms, who left at the completion of their projects, leaving behind the structures used by the kidnappers to perpetrate evil.

A cross section of residents, who spoke with our correspondent, described the area as a dangerous place, especially at night, claiming that the law enforcement agents had for years been informed of the criminal tendencies of some unscrupulous elements found around the area, but nothing was done to address it.

About 20 men and women were evacuated from the bush. The victims were bags of bones having been apparently subjected to starvation and neglect by their captors. Among the victims was a woman who claimed that she was delivered of a baby two days before the discovery and that her baby was immediately sold by her abductors.

Some appeared like lunatics with deadlocks on their heads. The scene at the forest which stretched over 15 kilometres was repulsive as decomposing bodies, human skulls, graves and human parts littered the place. Abandoned structures, containers and tankers also compete for space.

They were allegedly used by the kidnappers to keep away their victims from sight. Not a few of their unlucky victims had been slaughtered there and sold in parts to human parts buyers. Inside the abandoned buildings, there were tell-tale signs of rape and torture of victims. Among the items found are travelling bags, foot-wears, clothes, national drivers licence, wallets and passport photographs .

One of the national driver’s licence bears the name Akinola James Idowu (Ogun State) of NYSC Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan with expiring date April 4, 2014. Another national driver’s licence found is that of one Saidi R. Adetoro of 52, Yaya Abatan Street, Ogba Lagos State.

It was issued on March 29, 2003 and expired on November 3, 2006. Some of the mechanics, who operate close to the forest, said the human parts trade had been on for years. They claimed to have sighted on a number of occasions some persons in posh vehicles at the site of the horror.

Adekola Abato, a mechanic who spoke with our correspondent, said: “This is surprising. Since I came here for over eight years now, I never knew that this terrible thing is going on here. We ought to have known this but it’s very difficult to detect. We thank God that they have been exposed, but they have caused a lot of pains to the families of their victims.”

Although, the forest has since been condoned off by security agents, but angry residents have continued to throng the site wielding cutlasses, clubs, shovels, iron rods and other dangerous weapons in an attempt to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime. Not even the sounds of gun shots and tear gas canisters fired by the police to ward off the crowd could scare them away.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi has since revoked certificate of occupancy and reclaimed it for the state government. The Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Hon. Abass Aleshinloye who witnessed the evacuation of the kidnapped persons on Saturday described the action of the captors as criminal.

Ibadan forest of horror: Whistle blower okada rider still missing

Ibadan forest of horror: Police stop demolition

WALLS came crashing down and roofing sheets got crumpling as bulldozer rumbled in the Ibadan “forest of horror” yesterday.

But the police moved in to stop the demolition of structures at the Soka, forest where victims of ritualists and human parts were discovered last Saturday.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi revoked the certificate of occupancy of the land and reclaimed it for the government.

However, as the demolition got underway, Police Commissioner Mohammed Idabawa halted it, saying the police forensic team needed more time to comb the forest for evidence that would enable it determine those behind the activities at the evil forest.

Oluyole Local Government Chairman, Ayodele Abass-Aleshinloye, who received the call from Indabawa, said he pleaded that forensic experts from Abuja needed more time for their investigations.

Abass Aleshinloye and his Ibadan South West Local Government Area counterpart Taoreed Bolaji Adeleke, were on hand to witness the demolition before it was stopped.

They said the governor approved the stoppage. The demolition is to resume tomorrow.

They said the land was owned by the 11 local government areas in Ibadan but was leased to Costain Nigeria Limited during the channelisation of the Ogunpa River.

They explained that the land had been abandoned for 10 years which gave room for people to commit crimes.

“We are going to clear everything so as to uncover everything including the alleged underground or dungeon,” Aleshinloye said.

He threatened owners of undeveloped property that the C of O of undeveloped property in the city would be revoked.

Abass-Aleshinloye and Adeleke said efforts were being made to ensure that the speculation in some quarters of a possible dungeon in the forest was properly investigated and the site cordoned off.

Special Adviser on Media to the governor, Dr Festus Adedayo, said in a statement that the police boss reasoned that should the demolition be allowed to go on as earlier planned, concrete evidence that would help the police in their investigations would have been destroyed.

He said the demolition and the clearing of the bush would resume on Friday as the forensic experts were expected to have completed their investigations today.

Ibadan forest of horror: Police stop demolition

Ibadan Forest of Horror: Ibadan hoodlums fight for human parts

By Ehi Ekhator

Despite the fear and horror the forest in Ibadan has created, some hoodlums were seen scrambling for human parts yesterday. What they planned to use the human parts for was not cleared.

Curious crowds have continued to throng the Ibadan “forest of horror” where the dying people and human parts were discovered.

It was gathered that Hoodlums who have taken over the site are molesting people who came to the forest out of curiosity and seem to have taken control over the forest.

It was gathered that some hoodlums attempted to attack policemen who tried to stop them from the site.

The Ministry of Environment has fixed today for the demolition of all the structures especially abandoned factories, in the forest, which is believed to have served as hideout for criminals for over 15 years.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adebayo, confirmed that the demolition is slated for 11am today. (0)

Ibadan Forest of Horror: Ibadan hoodlums fight for human parts

Ibadan forest of horror: Survivors narrate ordeal

Stray bullet kills woman

Government takes over land

Owners of the Soka, Ibadan “forest of horror” lost it all yesterday, with the state government acquiring the land.

Some victims of the bestiality were recovering at the hospital.

But it was learnt that one of them, a woman, died on the way to the hospital on Saturday.

Crowds of curious residents besieged the State Hospital, Yemetu in the Oyo State capital to see the rescued victims.

The hospital had a hectic time controlling the crowds who remained resilient for hours in their determination to see the victims. But they were prevented by security personnel to ensure that the victims had some privacy and medical personnel attending to them were not distracted.

Some of the victims are yet to be fully conscious of their new environment. Others have responded to treatment.

Two of them – Nafiu Shittu and Titi Adeyemi – gave some meaningful responses, suggesting that they were mentally stable.

Shittu said: “I am a native of Ibadan living in Foko and Olodo area of Ibadan. I sold pile medicine to people in the city. I was doing the business on the day I was kidnapped four months ago. After going round the area where I had customers, I felt tired and decided to rest. It was at the Gate area. Suddenly, a bus stopped by my side and two men came out and rushed me into the back seat. That was all I could remember. When I regained consciousness, I was in a room in the forest, chained to a wall. I was too tired to struggle and as the days passed by, I became frail because I was not given anything to eat.”

Asked if he was aware of his environment, Shittu replied: “I am a normal human being. It is not possible for me to know where I was because I was in a room all through my days in captivity.”

He said he was not the only one in the building, adding that people passed by it regularly as he heard their conversations.

Titi Adeniyi, 45, said: “I live at Awolowo compound in Oke Bola, Ibadan. I am not mad and I am not an old woman. Two months ago, I was in front of our house when some men grabbed me and said I was under arrest. Before I could protest, I was put in a bus and driven away. We did not go to any police station and I still don’t know how we reached the bush. I had N10,000 with me but they took it. I am 45 but in the few months I spent there, I aged quickly for lack of care. We were fed once in a week.”

Governor Abiola Ajimobi and heads of security agencies were at the “forest of horror” yesterday. A woman was allegedly killed by a stray bullet during a clash between policemen and some youths.

The main entrance to the forest was cordoned off by the police to prevent more residents from thronging the site, which has been attracting crowds of people since the news broke on Saturday evening. But the security agencies stopped people yesterday morning.

The middle-aged woman, identity could not be immediately ascertained.

The bullet was said to have hit her in the chest. She died instantly.

Ajimobi led members of the State Executive Council and all the arms of the security agencies with a forensic expert on an on-the-spot assessment of the forest. The convoy was flagged down by the crowd of residents, who reported what they called “police wickedness” and called for Justice.

Policemen stationed an Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) a few metres away from the entrance to the forest to prevent residents from visiting the site.

The governor urged residents not to take the law into their hands. He promised to address the issue.

Ajimobi, who was conducted round the forest by security chiefs, was sad at what he called “man’s inhumanity to his fellow man”.

Visibly moved by the gory sight at the forest where many people had been held hostage by yet unknown kidnappers, Ajimobi called for a minute’s silence and led prayers for the repose of the souls of those who died.

The governor announced the revocation of the Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) of the expansive forest and directed that the bush be cleared.

He also pledged that the entire area would be combed by security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

“We came here with all the security chiefs. We have seen things for ourselves. It is surprising that such a thing existed here for a long time. Nevertheless, we will take the following actions:

“We will revoke all the C of Os of the owners of the land; government is taking it over immediately. Then we will set up a panel of forensic experts; we will get to the root of the matter and then we will find out those involved in the act. Even though we were told that the inhuman transactions here had been in existence for over 10 years, we will dig it up,’’ the governor said.

Ajimobi said it was unimaginable that an event as horrendous as this had been going on in the neighbourhood for over 10 years and the people living in the area had not alerted security agencies about it.

He told the crowd who thronged the scene of the incident, including the head of the community, Chief Isiaka Bello Olupoju, that the unemployed youths in the area would get automatic employment in the State Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES-O).

He urged those interested in the job to register with the village head.

The governor also promised to meet with the community next month on their needs, with a view to addressing them.

He advised the people to avoid brigandage, thuggery, violence and all anti-social activities and to give security agencies information on strange movements within the neighbourhood.

Olapeju and two other members of the community urged the government to come to their rescue.

In the abandoned buildings, with many room apartments were evidence of rape, torture and killings of the victims. Also, seen are chains, charms, and a slab which appeared like where victims are killed and cut into parts.

Among the items found  in some of the containers are travelling bags, foot-wears, clothes , national drivers licence,wallets and passport photographs .

A national driver’s licence bears the name Akinola James Idowu (Ogun State) whose address is NYSC Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan with an expiry date of April 4, 2014.

Another national driver’s licence found in one of the places where the victims were dispossessed of their personal effects, has the name Saidi R. Adetoro of 52,Yaya Abatan Street, Ogba Lagos State with issuance date 29 March, 2003 and expiring date 3 November, 2006.

No one could say precisely  what might have happened to these persons, but it is assumed that they may be some of the victims.

Youths in the area acting on a tip-off that another victim (a cyclist) allegedly sent distress calls for help, attempted to storm the main building in the forest. They were rebuffed by the police who allegedly fired shots.

A youth said: “A commercial motorcyclist is still trapped in the building and we learnt he sent a text message that kidnappers were about to kill him.

“We were only attempting to storm the place and find out the true situation of things when policemen who have been keeping vigil here repelled us.”

One of the youths was allegedly shot. In a reprisal, two vehicles – one a shuttle bus (Ajumose shuttle) and another belonging to the Ibadan zonal station of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) – were vandalised.

Some of the youths stripped themselves naked in protest over the shooting of their colleague.

The police on Sunday confirmed the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the gory discovery.

Police Commissioner Mohammed Indabawa said forensic experts would be engaged in investigating the killings of no fewer than 20, whose decomposed bodies were recovered in the forest. Some emaciated captives were found.

Indabawa said: “I am personally involved in the investigation of this case and whoever is involved shall be apprehended.

“We will leave no stone unturned and I can assure you that investigation has commenced which would involve the services of forensic experts.’’

He denied an allegation that the police failed to take action after being informed of the suspicious activities going on in the forest.

“It would be wrong to say that the police knew about it before now and did nothing.

“You will recall that we responded to the situation immediately we heard of the place from the people.

“I will, therefore, request that if anyone has a vital information, he should come to my office or call me on my personal telephone number 08032002676.

“I will, however, say that people should allow the police to conduct their investigations without interference. Let us all be law abiding in this situation,” he said.

Indabawa also advised residents not to act on rumours, saying: “Rumours break and destroy the nation and the peace of the state and should, therefore, be avoided.’’ (0)

Ibadan forest of horror: Survivors narrate ordeal