On
March 13, 2012, Pastor David Ogbolu, Founder of Christ Bible Gospel
Church, Ajibawo Village in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government of Ogun State,
was murdered by some land speculators.
His sin, according to information gathered by PUNCH Metro, was that he was not ready to compromise on land matters.
But
over eight months after the 50-year-old pastor was murdered, it was
learnt that the major suspects in the murder had been walking freely in
the community, boasting that they were untouchable.
Worried
by the danger the development portends for the family and the entire
community, Ogbolu’s family has appealed to the relevant authorities to
come to their rescue.
Ogbolu’s
son, David, on behalf of the family, has therefore petitioned the
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, to intervene in the
matter in order to bring the culprits to justice.
In
the petition dated November 22, 2012, and copied to Ogun State Governor
Ibikunle Amosun, the family alleged that since Ogbolu’s murder, a
ranking police officer at the Police Headquarters, Abuja, had been
backing the major suspects.
The
family alleged that when the incident occurred, the nine suspects the
police detained and arraigned before an Ota Magistrate’s Court on April
16, were released on the advice of the state Director of Public
Prosecution on April 25.
The
petition to IG Abubakar reads in part, “It is with heavy heart that I
write this letter, craving the indulgence of your good office to seek
justice over the dastardly killing of our father, Pastor David Ogbolu,
by some identified hoodlums at Oke-Odo, Ado-Odo/Ota LGA of Ogun State on
Tuesday, March 13, 2012.
“Our
father was gruesomely murdered by some land grabbers in the area who
had over time labelled him a traitor for his stoic stance for truth and
justice.
“On
behalf of my mother, Felicia Ogbolu, and my four siblings, I request
your immediate investigation into the matter as the major suspects are
publicly boasting that they are untouchable, threatening to deal with us
through a top police officer who is well known to be their backbone.
“The
murder of our father, who was 50 years old, was not a case of mistaken
identity but calculated and well orchestrated because he had always
stood on the side of truth and justice in the community, particularly in
matters of land disputes. We believe that was why he was killed.
“On
the day he was murdered, hired hoodlums wielding dangerous weapons
stormed Oke-Odo village and unleashed terror on the inhabitants. They
came fiercely in five trucks, shooting sporadically with villagers
having no option but to scamper to safety.
“Our
father was killed few hours after the invasion while on his way to keep
an appointment with a senior pastor in a neighbouring village. The
hoodlums laid siege to him in the bush.
“Some
of those who live around the area where my father was killed confided
in us and some village leaders that they overheard him shouting one
familiar name. There is no such name among land speculators in the area.
The man was duly arrested after the case was reported at the Ota Area
Command.
“The
man in question was arrested with other major suspects and the case was
transferred to state Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran,
Abeokuta, where to our dismay and shock, they were immediately released
on the order of the ranking police officer. The police officer has since
been protecting the murder suspects.”
The family urged the IG to look deeply into their petition, saying it would help the police to fish out those behind the murder.
It said until the major suspects were brought to justice, the blood of Ogbolu would continue to cry for justice.
The
family wondered the connection between the hoodlums and the police
officer that he was not allowing the police to investigate their
father’s killing.
Punch Nigeria
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