…assaulted security, traumatized staffs and customers, damaged property
The famous Bullion Hotel that belonged to Ogun State New Nigeria People’s Party Guber Candidate in the last general election, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo in Shimawa area of Obafemi Owode Local government was attacked by thugs believed to be members of opposition yesterday.
The tragic incident occurred early hours of the day as at least 20 political thugs, allegedly led by three police officers, stormed the establishment according to an eye witness. The incident left both the staff and guests traumatized.
The CCTV provided by the property management indicated that the invaders who identified themselves as boys of Alowonle of Shimawa, the chairman of the motorcycle (Okada) riders, launched a brutal attack on the hotel’s security guards, employees, and guests. The thugs were reportedly looted personal belongings, creating an atmosphere of chaos and terror.
The head of the legal team to the owner of the property, Barrister Isaac Izunya, said the Nigeria Police Force has left all the rules of engagement and now begun to deteriorate in knowledge, and therefore rather than saving citizens they have become cancerous to citizens and are shamelessly lending helping hands to cultists and criminal to Perpetuate and execute their criminal activities.
We call on the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun Mustapha to investigate and sieve away this bad officer in other to save the image of the Force and thereby properly secure the safety of life and properties of Nigerians,” he said.
Another eyewitness whose name would not like to be mentioned confirmed the presence of police officers at the premises during the attack . She said police officers not only facilitated the attack by the thugs but also harassed 2 security men who were watching television by slapping them and pulling them up with their uniforms.
One of the thugs issued a chilling warning, stating, “We are still coming back to fight you, and we must kill at least three persons.” He also claimed that Shimawa belonged to the APC (All Progressives Congress), and anyone opposing this political party, including the hotel owner, Ajadi, should leave the area.
According to Jamiu Opeyemi, one of the security officers, he recalled that a similar attack happened on September 5, 2023, when a group of thugs, some disguised as soldiers, stormed the Bullion Hotel.
He said that during the incident, Taiwo Lawal, a security guard, was seriously injured while attempting to protect Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo.
“It was the hotel’s intelligence officers who played a crucial role in the arrest of Nwokparo Offor, one of the assailants from the September attack. However, rather than detaining Offor, the security personnel who apprehended him was arrested and charged,” he said.
Ambassador Oguntoyinbo ,worried over persistent attacks on his hotel and his person, has called for an investigation into the role of the Shimawa police station in the latest attack.
He declared that these incidents would not deter him from looking into the welfare of Nigerians.
He emphasized that, “They can never stop my action as the voice of the Nigerian youths whose actions are to work on the progress of welfare of the poor and vulnerable youths.”
“The police officers that molested the security guards while watching television should be penalized for such action.
“These boys are always found in the Secondary School in Shimawa initiating themselves into nefarious activities and terrorizing innocent people in the town,” he said.
Ambassador Oguntoyinbo moved further to call upon the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, that the authority from the Shimawa police station for interrogation for the invasion of Bullion hotel with thugs.
The Bullion Hotel bore the brunt of the attack, with all its rooms ransacked, and the main entrance severely damaged to gain access to the premises.
Among the items looted were phones, a substantial sum of money, and numerous power banks used for charging mobile devices.
Soji Ileyemi; Adedayo Opeyemi; Dauda Yusuf and Temitope Makinde are part of the security officers available during the police and the thug’s invasion. Moreover, Temitope Olajide who is the fifth person among the people arrested is the Bullion Entertainment manager.