Officers of the Nigerian Army picked up Opeyemi Idowu and his friend, Kola Bello, in Sagamu on March 29 and then transferred them to the Eleweran Police Station in Abeokuta, where police officers demanded a N30,000 daily fee from each to conduct an investigation.

On his birthday and few days to his grandmother’s 8th day firdaus prayer, Opeyemi was on his way back from a tailor with Bello when they were stopped by officers of the Nigerian Army on a motorcycle and picked up with their van.

Along with some other arrested persons, the army took them to a checkpoint where their identities were checked. Despite identifying himself as a bouncer with an identity card, the soldiers refused to let Opeyemi go. Instead, they took him and others to the Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta.

Tobi Alabi, Opeyemi’s friend, who spoke to FIJ, said it is easy to spot that Opeyemi is a bouncer and security guard from his build. He explained that the family made a visit to the Alamala Barracks to understand why Opeyemi and Kola were arrested, but they got no clear explanation.

“When the family visited the barracks, the army said they could not do anything until their commandant was around. So, the family members and the representatives of the Association of Bouncers, Sagamu, waited outside for the commandant. The next thing they knew, Ope and others were bundled into a van and taken away. They had to chase the van on a bike to Elewran Police Station, Abeokuta,” Alabi told FIJ.

When members of the family got to Eleweran Police Station, they were informed by the police that they would have to pay N30,000 everyday for each of the two. The fees were to conduct an investigation to know whether or not they were cultists.

In recent times, cult killings have been on the rise in Abeokuta. It has also spread to Sagamu, where eight persons were murdered on Monday. To ensure security in the town, Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State Governor, has directed that security agencies relocate to Sagamu to fish out those involved in the recent cult activities. This, the police are turning to an opportunity to extort money.

FIJ made several calls to Lanre Sikiru Bankole, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, but they were not answered. A text message sent had also not been replied to at press time.