Police Arrest 10 as Adenuga’s In-law is Killed in Land Tussle

Tajudeen Disu

Ambode orders police to fish out perpetrators
Gboyega Akinsanmi and Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos
The Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment
Company, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, who was in charge of the Lekki
Free Trade Zone, was monday morning killed in Lagos during a
community uprising.
Disu was the father of Jameel Disu who is married to Bella, the
second daughter of business mogul and Chairman of Globacom,
Mr. Mike Adenuga.
The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Dangote Refinery, who was
identified as Colonel Usman (rtd), was also severely injured in
the fracas.
THISDAY gathered that the fracas began in the morning when
members of the Okunraye community in the Lekki area of the
state sighted some members of staff of the said refinery at the
site.
According to an eyewitness, the members of the community
stormed the site and asked them to vacate the vicinity, alleging
that the said land was snatched from them.
During the confrontation, the deceased tried to calm frayed
nerves when some hoodlums allegedly hijacked the otherwise
peaceful protest and unleashed mayhem in the process.
According to another report, the deceased had called in the
police to restore peace, but the policemen allegedly shot at the
crowd and killed two people.
After regrouping, the community again angrily stormed the area
and it was in the process that some persons killed Disu and
severely injured the refinery’s CSO.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer,
Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the
command had initially arrested 20 suspects in connection with
the murder.
He said: “Immediately the incident happened, the police were
able to restore peace and they also arrested 20 persons in
connection with the incident including the Baale (chief) of the
community.”
THISDAY however gathered that although 20 suspects were
initially arrested, 10 of them were later released after they had
been profiled and found innocent of the said allegations.
However, Offor said the police still have the Baale and the
chairman of the O'odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other high
profile community members in their custody.
Also, the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the
police have swung into action and investigations have
commenced into ascertaining what really happened.
He said: “We have so far arrested 10 suspects and the arrests
we have made are of those who were directly responsible. We
are in the state of the operation.
“We would do a diligent investigation and we would ensure that
those people behind the fracas and death – not just the people
we see on the road are perpetrators – and there may be
sponsors, are brought to book.
“We will go after these sponsors and I can assure you that we
will ensure the investigation is carried out as speedily as
possible and we will make sure they are diligently prosecuted.”
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Governor, Mr
Akinwunmi Ambode, monday ordered the police to fish out the
perpetrators behind the murder of Disu.
While expressing shock and sadness over his death, Ambode
said the late Disu was shot by assailants during an official visit
to one of the villages within the zone in the early hours of
yesterday.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the
governor said: “We are deeply touched over the loss of our
dedicated officer at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Alhaji Tajudeen
Disu, who was until his death the arrow head of the free trade
zone Initiative.
“It really saddens my heart and the heart of all of us because
this was somebody that had been dedicated to his duty in the
past 10 years. He was a man who was committed to promoting
the inflow of investment to Lagos State.
“This is a great concern and I have directed the Lagos State
Commissioner of Police to investigate the cause of the death.
The Commissioner of Police must do a thorough investigation
to unravel the root cause of what has just happened because he
was on a peaceful mission to that place.”
He urged residents of the area to remain calm, as his
administration would continue to ensure that the security of
lives and property is accorded necessary priority and that the
zone is safe for investors.
He said: “I want to appeal to all our people in Ibeju Lekki axis
that they should give peace a chance; it is in the interest of all
Lagosians that we attract as many investors to the state.
“That is what we have been doing and have improved upon in
the last four months. I implore everybody to be calm. We would
get to the root of this unfortunate incident.
“I will like everybody to also know that we are trying our best
but we can only appeal to our people to allow peace to reign in
the free trade zone.
“That is the only way we can allow more people to be involved
in this trade zone. Let me tell our people that we are on the right
track for the kind of job creation we want to bring to Lagos
State.”