A 64-year-old grandmother, Madam Mary Babalola, whose grandson, Oluwasun Babalola, aged 16 was killed after a gang of armed hoodlums invaded her shop at Idi-Araba area of Lagos State, has raised alarm that the suspected leader of the gang who is now in police net may come for other members of the family should the police fail to prosecute him.
Late Oluwasun How the attack was carried out The visibly worried grandmother who was still nursing the wounds she sustained during the attack told Crime Guard in her residence at Ilasamanja area of Lagos State that the arrested suspect, Wasiu Akinwande, a.k.a Oloriesho, in February 2015, led a gang of armed hoodlums to her shop, located at Aborishade, off Idi-Araba area of the State, and they opened fire on her, her grandson and some other residents of the area. She explained that her grandson who was studying for his Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, SSCE, at the shop, was killed on the spot, while she sustained a bullet wound on her knee adding that another man opposite her shop, was also killed during the attack. Appeals to Gov. Ambode and CP Lagos While calling on the Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode and the State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to ensure that the killers of her son pay for their crimes, Babalola said she has been bedridden since the incident occurred.
“I can’t walk any more. The bullet shattered the bones on my knees and since I left the hospital, I have been bedridden.” She stated. Flash back Giving a vivid account of the attack, Madam Babalola Said; “I was in my shop with my grandson who was studying for his SSCE exams at about 7: pm, when the hoodlums attacked the area. I saw Oloriesho in front with a silver pistol and I did n’t know who he was because I haven’t set eyes on him before. The next was sound of gunshots and there was confusion everywhere. While I tried to run, I fell and discovered that I have been shot. When the boys left, people around that area came to rescue me and took me to the hospital. How I heard news of my grandson’s death The wounded grandma, Madam Babalola “After the incident, I asked after my grand son and I was told he was fine. Nobody told me he was killed during the attack until after nine months. They told me that he was shot on his head during the attack and his corpse was found under a bus close to my shop. All this while I have prayed and waited for justice for my grandson and I am glad that the man who led the attack has been arrested. I am a poor woman but I hope the governor and the Commissioner of police will ensure I get justice.” She pleaded Hunt for the leader of the gang Crime Guard gathered that before his arrest, operatives at the D9 section of the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, trailed Oloriesho to his hideout at Mosalashi Street, in Mushin area of the State where there was a shoot out between the operatives and some hoodlums who attempted to prevent policemen from arresting the suspect. Police sources revealed that Oloriesho, has been on the police wanted list for long following several gang- related killings and other violent crimes around Mushin and its environs Recruitment and exploits The source further revealed that Oloriesho and his gang were recruited in 2009 by a faction of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, which was involved in a battle of supremacy against their opponents and that Oloriesho and his gang had carried out several killings around Toll gate, Idi-Oro, New Balogun, Ogunjobi and Railway areas of Mushin before his arrest. His alleged criminal record, according to sources, showed that five members of his gang were arrested by the SCID operatives in January 2016 and an Ak47 belonging to the police which was snatched from a policeman murdered at Daleko area of Isolo, Lagos, was recovered from the suspect. The source further revealed that since his arrest, there have been no news of violent clashes or killings within Mushin area and to make sure they achieve a lasting peace in the area, the operatives went all out for Olorisho because he was the leader of the gang that had been terrorizing Mushin and its environs in Lagos.
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