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THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012
How Ondo OPC chieftain met his death shortly after returning from a colleague’s rememberance party
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The policemen had queried why the OPC members were in possession of fire arms and at the same time drinking at the joint, that they must properly identify themselves. It was in the process of trying to flee the scene that their leader (Akewusola) was shot in the back by a policeman...
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I •Moses Wasah
bino Foundation has provided free medical service to about 246 albinos nationwide, pointing out however, that the for any albino to be accorded that opportunity, they must be registered members of the Albino Foundation. He noted that the condition of the albinos calls for concern. He pointed out: “It is something that should get the attention of the Federal Government because the situation of the albinos is extremely bad. Cancer is our major problem. All albinos are susceptible to skin cancer, including myself. I have a patch on my leg. The treatment of skin cancer is a major milestone and three successive governments such as the Obasanjo government, the
Yar’adua government and the Jonathan administration have implemented it. So, the treatment of albinos is a major issue for us. “As we speak, the National Hospital is being owed about N18 million and we are pursuing that at the Federal Ministry of Finance. So, it is major issue and as at today, they are treating us free of charge, from the water we drink to the medicals, the bed and everything which is absolutely free.” Ekpele believes that albinos should be given some special treatment and should not be exposed to the sun. He believes that the issue of skin cancer associated with them can be eliminated or minimised if they are not unduly exposed to the sun and other harsh conditions.
F ANYONE had told Alfa Kamaldeen Akewusola, a chieftain of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ondo State, that death was lurking in the dark, he would have dismissed it as utter rubbish. He met his tragic end shortly after returning from a remembrance ceremony of former Deputy President of OPC, Alhaji Badmus, aka Kosija, on April 7, 2012. According to sources, the late OPC leader had barely returned to his base in Ondo West Local Government Area with other members of the group at about 8pm when they settled down at a beer parlour owned by one of the members of the group to enjoy themselves. It was not long after that when a team of policemen from Enu Owa Division stormed the joint asking for the identity and mission of the men, numbering 30. The ‘encounter’ turned into a shouting match between the minions of law and the OPC members during which one of the policemen allegedly shot Akewusola. Sources told The Nation that police visited the spot following a distress call by residents that some OPC members were shooting sporadically in the air at the joint and terrifying innocent people who were already in bed at that time of the day. Adeniyi Omojola, a resident, said:”It was the distress call from residents that made the police to visit the beer joint. The police were alerted that some OPC members had embarked on shooting spree
•The late Akewusola
Kunle AKINRINADE
at the joint causing panic in the area. But the arrival of the policemen at the scene had angered the OPC members who queried the mission of the law enforcement agents, leading to a violent confrontation. It was during the confrontation that Akewusola was allegedly shot by one of the policemen. Another source, who asked for anonymity, however, said that the OPC leader was shot while fleeing with other members of the group following police insistence on proper identification. “The policemen had queried why the OPC members were in possession of fire arms and at the same time drinking at the joint, that they must properly identify themselves. It was in the process of trying to flee the scene that their leader (Akewusola) was shot in the back by a policeman. Recalling the incident, the widow of the deceased, Suliat, accused the police of deliberately killing her husband. “I am sure that the police intentionally killed my husband be-
cause they have been harassing him lately.” “On the day of the incident, he had just returned from Lagos with other members of the group when he called me on the telephone that they would be visiting a beer joint owned by one of them to enjoy themselves. It was not long after that I was informed that my husband had been killed by a heartless policeman.” The remains of the deceased have since been deposited in mortuary pending the outcome of investigation by the police. The spokesman of Ondo State Police Command, Mr Aremu Adeniran, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), explained that the errant police officer who shot the late OPC chieftain had been arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Deprtment (SCID). “The policeman who shot the late Akewusola has been arrested and given orderly room trial. “He is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) and we are awaiting the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution.”