By Abiola Olawale
The three members of the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) who were detained over the arrest of Fulani leader, Iskilu Wakili accused of killing and kidnapping Ibarapa residents have been reportedly released by the Oyo state police command.
The OPC men reportedly regained their freedom Tuesday’s evening.
The release follows the intervention of the Oyo State Government and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams who had earlier condemned the arrest of his men.
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The Oyo State Police command had arrested three OPC members who were allegedly involved in the arrest of Wakili.
Earlier, the Oyo State Police Command, had debunked reports that the arrested OPC members have been transferred to Abuja.
Recall that a joint team of OPC, Ibarapa security operatives, local vigilante, and other groups, arrested Wakili alleged to be a Fulani bandit, in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
But the Oyo Police command in a statement later condemned the arrest of Wakili by the OPC. The police also confirmed that the OPC members have been arrested, in an action that sparked criticism from Nigerians.
Following the reports that the arrested OPC members have been transferred to Abuja for further investigation, Olugbenga Fadeyi, Spokesperson, Oyo State Police Command had debunked the reports.
Meanwhile, Wakili has denied the allegations levelled against him.
Wakili, who was speaking at the State CID, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said he has never been involved in any act of criminality, challenging his accusers to come out in the open with their claims.
In his words, “Two days after my return from hospital (in Cotonou, Republic of Benin), I was lying down because I was ill and suddenly some women came and started shouting that armed OPC men had come looking for me. I asked them to flee but I could not run because I was sick. Two men later came and picked me from where I was lying down, they threw me in their vehicle naked. I fainted many times before they drove me to the police station in Igboora. From there we were taken to SCID, Ibadan. I am not a criminal, my children are not criminals. I don’t know anything about kidnapping or any crime. I have many cows and I know they stray into farms at times but I don’t have criminal records anywhere and this can be investigated. After they took me away from my home, a woman, Tande, was killed. Sometime last year, two of my children were kidnapped and I paid millions of naira as ransom before they were released. I am not a kidnapper.”
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