Published 10th Apr, 2022

By Precious Ewuji

Divine Nwachukwu, an Ogun State-based student, has narrated how her phones were collected by vigilantes in the Akeja area of Ogun State on March 26.

Nwachukwu said she met the security officers in the night while returning from a friend’s wedding.

“When I saw them, I wasn’t frightened because it was just 9 pm and they don’t usually stop people at that time. But they called me and told me to stop,” she said.

“I told them I was coming from a friend’s wedding and was returning home. I even told them I was going to Sebiotimo street, where my house is located.”

She explained that one of the officials told her it was late and that her movement was suspicious.

“My street is not a rowdy one. It rained that night so people had gone to their various houses. I couldn’t call anyone to explain to them that I live in that community. So, I told the officer that was not in uniform to allow me call my parents,” she said.

Nwachukwu said they told her that she couldn’t make a phone call. She said one of them told her to submit her phones.

“I noticed that they were drunk and two of them were holding cutlasses. I became careful, so I wouldn’t be raped or injured,” she told FIJ.

“My father also knows most of the vigilante officers. I gave them my phones and pleaded to make use of their phones to contact my parents, but they refused.”

She stated that the officers told her to go home and tell her parents to call their boss the following morning.

The next day, Nwachukwu’s father placed a call to the vigilante leader in the area, but he did not answer it.

When FIJ contacted Olowolaju Babatunde, Akeja vigilante leader, via the number Nwachukwu provided, he pleaded that more time should be given to him. He also revealed that the culprits were not from the community.

“I have not found these people. They are not from this community. I trust my men; they will never operate before midnight. But give me more time to apprehend the culprits,” he said.

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