Published 22nd Oct, 2021

Balogun Olawale, a private entrepreneur and former chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Ogun State, has not been released since he was arrested by operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the Nigeria Police in the Ake area of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Although he was arrested alongside four hoodlums in connection with the public disturbance during the factional congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ake palace, several eyewitnesses have said that he was not part of the violence.

FIJ gathered that the Ake congress was disrupted by some arm-wielding hoodlums on Saturday morning.

‘BALOGUN’S ARREST A POLITICAL SET-UP’

While parading the suspects on Monday, Lanre Bankole, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, stated that Balogun was arrested in a Hilux van around the palace among other people who illegally possessed guns.

However, Kayode Olawale, Balogun’s brother, stressed that the former NAN chairman was only a victim of circumstances.

“The CP said he was arrested in a vehicle, but he was never with any of the people they picked him with,” he told FIJ.

“He was just about to cross the road when someone pointed at him. From all indications at SWAT station, my brother is being framed up.

“How can they arrest a supposed suspect on Saturday and keep him without arraignment? Kayode questioned. “Now, the family is stuck on what to do.”

The duo of Kabir Adisa and John Babatunde also corroborated Kayode’s account of the arrest.

“He was trying to cross the road and join me on the other side when the police accosted him,” said Babatunde. “He was not even in any Hilux van as claimed. By the way, he was searched on the spot, and nothing incriminating was found.”

Adisa, on the other hand, said the police were overzealous and on a malicious errand for the state government.

“We’ve received word that the police were there on the instructions of some state government’s appointees to make random arrests,” he noted. “The real suspects of the congress’ disruption were caught on drone and are yet to be arrested.”

FIJ obtained multiple pictures of men with guns when the APC congress was disrupted, but they are still roaming Abeokuta, the state capital.

Abeeb Okedara, the Secretary to the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ogun Central, holding a gun during public unrest at Ake. Beside him is Dimeji Danku, an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Sango-Otta

OGUN POLICE INSIST ARREST WAS GENUINE

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the spokesman of the Ogun State Police Command, insisted that the arrest of the suspects, including Balogun, was genuine.

“Balogun was found in the midst of people having two prohibited firearms in a Hilux vehicle,” he said.

Asked if the command was aware of some other hoodlums yet to be arrested, he said, “We are still investigating the case and those who need to be arrested will be arrested.”

**These hoodlums are roaming the streets, but the Ogun Police PRO said the investigation is still ongoing**

Oyeyemi maintained that the police have a valid warrant. “If the families are in doubt, they should sue us and we will produce the court order that mandated us to detain them,” he said.

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