As the struggle to curtail the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic intensifies in Nigeria, there has been stringent measures taken to checkmate the spread of the disease vis-à-vis the lockdown of initial three states of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja the FCT by the Federal Government, and the subsequent repeat of same action by all the remaining state Governors in the federation. This action has generated a lot of controversies and different reactions from the general public.
It is evident that many Nigerians find it pretty difficult to stay at home during this lockdown due to starvation and lost daily income for survival. This is further heightened by concerns that government does not have effective palliative programs in place to cushion the negative effect of this unprecedented lockdown which prompt flouting the order of the federal government.
On the other hand, security men deployed to enforce the stay at home order have literally turned the order to workshop where they earn daily living collecting bribes and allowing people go about their daily businesses unhindered. This in a way is sabotage to the security of lives and properties as well as paving the way for criminalities and security infiltration especially in Lagos and Ogun States.
In Lagos for instance, cultism groups in the name of “Awawa and 1million gangs” are terrorizing the communities while in Ogun State, one Mr Sunday Akinnuoye popularly known as Baba Soldier extorting members of the public under the disguise of “Amotekun” the popular South Western community policing outfit with his 13 man terror gang. Many thanks to Ogun State security agency that nabbed and handover his team to the DPO Itele police station.
Further investigation revealed that, the leader of this gang, named Mr. Sunday Akinnuoye is a Retired army officer, senior member Vigilante Group of Nigeria, anti-terrorist organization, Civil right group, National union of road transport worker, CDA member and a close friend to a senior Yoruba leader with access to political leaders in government, have been arrested for several fraudulent activities, but usually gets away with the use of it because he (Akinnuoye) have been able to warm himself to the hearts of most unwary leaders of Yorubaland through prominent Yoruba groups which makes his release whenever he commits these atrocities a matter of phone call. Akinnuoye was said to have defrauded several people of #2,500 cut across the South West states, the fee he claimed was meant for registration form for participation in the Federal Government Regional Agricultural Intervention Program, parading a photo of himself and the Vice President to defraud people. We authoritatively gathered that he has on several occasions been arrested for fraud related offences at a hide-out office located at No. 14, Aina Eleko Street, Onigbongbo Maryland, Lagos.
It was gathered that a prominent Yoruba group, Network of Yoruba Alliance, NEYA, in a release signed by the secretary to the group Comrade Adelaja, gave stern warning to the general public and especially the Yoruba leaders against having dealings with Akinnuoye on behalf of the group saying: “we have discovered that Akinnuoye Sunday has being parading himself as a representative of NEYA in Yoruba interests group meetings and events. We hereby dissociate ourselves as members of the group Network of Yoruba Alliance, NEYA and the group from any association with him (Akinnuoye), we wish to advise various Yoruba leaders to be wary of such elements with questionable characters as they are capable of jeopardizing the collective struggles, the ideologies and image of the Yoruba leaders and misrepresent the Yoruba interests.
Another Yoruba group had hitherto warned the coordinator of the “Amotekun” against a purported plan by these elements to secretly recruit their loyalists into the group to serve their interest. The group therefore reiterates its warnings, now that this has happened, and the need for the coordinator to personally see to the monitoring of recruitments for probity and accountability.
The News Carrier reliably gathered that in the case of the cultists activities in Lagos State, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Odumosu have directed thorough action by the police in the affected areas of the state and that several arrests have been made in respect to the activities of the “Awawa boys and the 1million gang” terrorizing those areas. The Commissioner of Police hinted that investigation is still ongoing and hopefully more arrests will be made and that the suspects will be charged to court after the lockdown is lifted.
Our Recommendation
Government should use available public data such as Bank BVN, political party card, national censor record and the use of nonpolitical organization like red-cross, boys scout, man-o -war, and NGOS to distribute the Covid -19 support.
Provide support for police community to provide monitoring team to monitor the activities of their men on duties during and after corvid – 19 pandemics
Also request the use of SO Safe security team to patrol the boundary of Ogun state to curtail the activities of criminal like Sunday Akinnuoye and his gang
Advice the management of AMOTEKUN to scrutinize every member through Yoruba method and ensure individual should have the signature of the community, organization, association leader for accountability, coordination and responsibility purposes. Must have no criminal record.
Advice Yoruba pollical leader to disassociate their self from Sunday Akinnuoye as he uses the names and photograph to fraud member of the public of their hard earned money.
We appreciate the effort of the Ogun state security apparatus for their good and intelligent effort in detecting the criminal with such political influence.