A certain Sokoto-aran, who was alleged to have paraded himself as local chief of the Idasho community; and Benson Okuyelu, who allegedly fired gun shots every time the community challenged their dubious actions; were among those identified by the community of perpetrating the scam.
Some men who allegedly connived with the Lekki Free Zone Ltd and officials of the Lagos State Government to engage businessman Mr. Aliko Dangote in a dubious land auction deal were interrogated at the Alagbon Police Station on Thursday.
A certain Sokoto-aran, who was alleged to have paraded himself as local chief of the Idasho community; and Benson Okuyelu, who allegedly fired gun shots every time the community challenged their dubious actions; were among those identified by the community of perpetrating the scam.
The community also accused the Oba of Epe, Kamorudeen Animashaun, of involvement in the deal.
In the past, Sokoto-aran had avoided questions by the community about his role in the deal. He also had shielded himself with the protection of officials of Lekki Free Zone Ltd and officials of Lagos State Government, with whom they had allegedly cut the deal.
Attempts to arrest him and others also failed last week, when an overwhelming number of thugs prevented the policemen who were on the assignment from taking him.
On Wednesday, he was to have been rounded up when he was found alone by policemen from the Alagbon Police Station, but the police was again hindered. Sources said Sokoto-aran made calls to Oba Animashaun, who in turn prevailed on the Commissioner of Police to prevent the arrest which would embarrass him. He had then promised he would turn himself in at the station. Sokoto-aran later returned to the community boasting that he was too big for the police.
Apart from Sokoto-aran, Okuyelu and one Kamoru Musile, a local thug, the Oba Animashaun was said not to have involved any genuine local person in the community whose land they were selling out.
On Thursday, when Sokoto-aran and others turned themselves in at the Alagbon Police Station, eventually, they were briefly interrogated and then released.
A source familiar with their interrogation disclosed that Okuyelu, admitted to firing shots, stating that the gun belonged to his younger brother, known as Saidi Elegba.
He claimed that Elegba got the gun from Chairman of the Epe Local Council, Mr. Segun Agbaje, but Okuyelu did not produce the gun, which he claimed had been seized by the DPO of Akodo Police Station near their community.
After the interrogations, all the suspects were allowed to go home.
Following their release, residents of the community have called for a conclusive investigation on the matter.
"But of utmost importance to us is that they should leave our land to us or let those that need land approach us directly," said the Bale of Idasho Community, Mr. Mutiu Apena.