MAGBORO, Nigeria — A complex saga involving extortion, alleged cybercrime, and military intervention has led to the arrest of three Islamic clerics in Ogun State, sparking a debate over the impartiality of law enforcement agencies in the region.
The Ogun State Police Command detained the clerics for allegedly extorting money from a man known simply as Tola, who reportedly sought special prayers from them.
Tola’s actions, however, have drawn criticism, as he himself has been accused of involvement in cybercrime by Hamzat Hamed, the brother of one of the detained clerics named Sulaimon.
Tola, escorted by up to five suspected soldiers, arrived at Bankole Estate, Gasline, Magboro, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area to arrest Hamzat last week.
Subsequently, Hamzat’s Toyota RAV 4 was seized by the military officers, who then demanded that he produce his brother Sulaimon for questioning.
“Soldiers are following the guy (Tola) around. They did not detain him. My brother has been there for about five days. If those people had done the wrong thing, what about this ‘Yahoo Boy’ (Tola)?” questioned Hamzat, speaking on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
A senior police officer at Warewa Police Station clarified that the primary case they are investigating involves extortion.
“What I have is that somebody duped him, and those boys have confessed that they indeed obtained money from him,” the officer stated, declining to be named as they are not authorized to speak on the matter.
Omolola Odutola, the state Police Public Relations Officer, urged patience during the investigation.
“Investigation takes time. Let them be patient,” she said.
The Nigerian Army is also looking into the case. Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army spokesperson, said, “Efforts are on to identify the suspected soldiers involved.”
This convoluted case raises questions about the role of military personnel in civilian matters and the fairness of the police investigation, especially considering the conflicting accusations made by involved parties.
It underscores the challenges facing law enforcement agencies in navigating the intricate landscape of crime, faith, and social complexities in contemporary Nigeria.
