Odo-Owa Masquerade Festival Mayhem: Court remands 4 allegedly nabbed with charm, weapons

By Kayode Adeoti

The magistrate court, sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, last Friday, remanded four persons in prison custody for allegedly causing mayhem during Odo-Owa masquerade festival.
The defendants; Oguntoye Bayo, Femi Olamide, Olaniyi Jamiu and Abolarin Matthew are of various addresses in Odo Owa, Gbede, Kajola, Ikole in Oke-Ero and Ekiti Local Governments of the state.
The Police First Information Report (FIR) revealed that on May 31, 2019, information was recieved by the security operatives that crisis has broken out in the aforementioned communities following the masquerade festival organised by Odo-Owa.
The  masquerade from Odo-Owa were said to have trespassed into the neighbouring communities thereby causing crisis.
They were alleged to have  unleashed terror on members of Kajola, Gbede and Ikotun communities including innocent passerby.
The development reportedly led to the death of three persons; Olukosi Sunday, Olasunkanmi Agboola both of Kajola community and Akinola Emmanuel of Gbede town.
In the course of police investigation, the defendants, who were believed to have actively participated in the crisis were arrested.
Recovered from them during the arrest were dangerous weapons and charms, the FIR divulged.
The Police report further stated that the Investigation conducted at the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (CIID) revealed that the defendants, Bayo, Olamide and Jamiu came into the communities with dangerous weapons and charms to cause mayhem.
The first defendant, Bayo was said to have confessed at the police station that he left his commuinity, Ikole, with axe and when searched, a purse containing ‘juju’ and tramadol were recovered from him.
The Prosecutor, Inspt. Adewumi Johnson told the court that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody.
On his part, Barr. Samuel Umor who represented the defendants pleaded that the bail of his clients should be granted in view of the fact that they’re still presumed innocent.
Magistrate Bio Saliu, in his short ruling said the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter and adjourned the matter to 3rd May, 2019.