His name is Lanre Olabinjo, a crime fighter of great repute who has voluntarily staked all he has to wage war against cultists and other criminals.
As the Chief Operations Officer of his group, he is one of the leaders of Onyabo vigilante group, who has discharged his duties creditably.
Why is it that bad things often happen to good people? This was one question many concerned residents of Ikorodu asked when sometime late last year, they heard that Lanre was detained along with former DPO for Igbogbo Road Police Station, Mr. Remi Adesoye over alleged disappearance of two young men suspected to be cultists.
Lanre spent weeks in Panti Police Station before his release. Many people prayed for his return and pressed buttons because of their recognition of the sacrifices this young man and his group are making for the sake of security of Ikorodu community.
On his return from detention, Lanre granted Oriwu Sun editor, HADJI KAZIM GANIU-SANNI and MUFUTAU JIMOH an explosive interview. He bared his mind on several issues concerning his job, vision, the security situation in the community, activities of cultism and criminality, relationship between Onyabo and the police in the war against crime etc.
Below is the full interview. Enjoy it.
ORIWU SUN: What is your name, sir,
- OLABINJO: I am Olabinjo Olarenwaju and I am the chairman of United Area Club and Vigilante Group in Ikorodu. I am also the chairman of All Stars Football Organisation and Premier Football Organization, all in Ikorodu.
ORIWU SUN: Recently, you were implicated, arrested and detained over an alleged mysterious missing of a notorious cultist from the police detention at Igbogbo police state. Can you please, explain how it happened?
- OLABINJO: On November 20, 2015 I was called by the former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ikorodu, Mr. Remi Adesoye that a raid was conducted and as a result, some people were arrested and he wanted me to come and identify those who were on the wanted list. If there is a raid being carried out, the policemen would call me to identify those involved because we know our community and we know ourselves.
And I think twice in the past, we organized a peace talk between the Eiye and Aiye cult groups. This meeting is usually to know them and at the same time to ask them to drop their sword and embrace peace.
So, when such meeting is organized, a lot of them came around and that is where we know most of the bad boys. When he now called me and said that they have arrested some of these guys, when I got to the place, I discovered that Cyan was one of those arrested.
I don’t know him as Waheed Kabiru, I then knew him as Cyan and he killed more than twenty- seven (27) people in Ikorodu. So, I now told the DPO, that he was the person called Cyan, but he was claiming that his name was Waheed . I then told him that the last person he killed was in front of my office. I was coming from Ireshe down to Aga when I heard a gunshot and I parked.
When I came out from my car, I saw them standing and the time I moved closer to them, I discovered that it was Cyan and as I called his name, he just mounted a bike and sped away. I told him that I saw him the other time he killed a boy called Jekomo. The boy was living somewhere around this Aga.
I told the DPO that “this is Cyan” and when I got out of the station, I met his father, who is also popularly known as Cyan. He told me to help him in begging the DPO to release his son and I reminded him that in January 2012, his son killed his childhood friend called Ronaldo and we were, the ones who prevented the boys from Ita-Aro from burning his house. I moved down there with the members of ‘Onyabo’ and dispersed those guys I simply told the father that he was out of his mind.
Then, we got another security report that the boys wanted to burn his father and kill Cyan by burning him on his Okada. I told them that if they wanted to burn Cyan once he has killed somebody let that be so. That person told me that it was not Cyan but his father.
I told him that it was not his father that committed the crime. I then called him and he told me where he was and I went and picked him up to the station. He wrote a statement there and myself in the company of policemen who led him to his house. We took all the pictures of the things they damaged and returned him back to the station.
Then he told me that he wanted to relocate to Ogijo and that was that. But I asked him that if he was killed that time, would he now come back and tell me that I should come and plead on behalf of his son that is troubling the community? I told him, let the boy face the music because “Small Jesus” and other who were caught in this act are presently cooling their heels in Kirikiri. I told him, let your son’s case be like that so that there would be peace in Ikorodu.
After that, I left and the following day, he came here in the company of one Adigbonronku and I told him that I was surprised that he could follow this man to plead. Adigbonronku lives behind my office. I told him that he should go and plead with the police, who arrested his son and not me.
But he told me that the policemen asked him to come and meet me and I asked him who was that police officer that referred him to me. I said that he was arrested by the police and not by Onyabo and I only went there to confirm that he was Cyan and the other notorious man who was troubling the community.
Sometime in December, DPO Remi Adesoye called me and said that some policemen from Escort Department, Lagos State Police Command wanted to see me. When I got to the DPO’s office, they gave me a sheet of paper to write what I know about Waheed Kabir (Cyan) and I told them the little I knew.
I also told them about all the people he has killed including Ronaldo and Jimba. He killed Jimba, two days before he was to travel to London, he killed Famous, Jekomo and he killed one other guy at Ijomu. I have some of the pictures of those he sent to early grave.
After telling them what I know about him, they left and after about two weeks the DPO told me that those police officers intended to see me at the state command. I went there and they asked me to write another statement, which I did. Then, they asked if I came with a surety and I told them since they invited me I would be available any time they call me. I told them that I have in my own capacity assisted the police in order to ensure that the crime rate in Ikorodu is reduced.
They told me that they had to wait for the CP and when he came in, they took me to him. He got inside and after a while I was told the CP said I should go. According to them, he told them that the CP said that the DPO should come with the person he released Cyan to.
Two weeks after, the officer from Panti came to my office and dropped an invitation letter that I should come to their office on December 24, 2015. Then, I was not in the office and when I came back, my secretary gave me the invitation and I saw the officer’s number and his name was Sergeant Akpan.
However, I called him and told him that at that moment I was not around but that I would be available on the 27th if they would be around. He told me that they won’t be around on the 27th and that I should come on the 29th. I went there on the 29th and they gave me another sheet of paper to make a statement again, which I did. After the statement, he asked me certain questions including, how ‘Onyabo’ operates and I told him.. I added that we do operate with the Area Command and the Divisional Police Officer.
I also told him that even the SARS, before their annex was brought down to Ikorodu, had a link with Kyari, who happens to be their Officer in Charge (O.C) I told them that we do arrest armed robbers and then hand them over to the policemen from SARS.
Again, I let them know that some of their officers use to come and tell me that they are looking for somebody and I will call on my vigilantes to move inside the town and get them for the SAS officers. And he now took me to their O.C and when we got there, he also interrogated me. He asked me if we were operating with guns and I told them that, it is only those we post from one company to the other that use guns, usually licensed guns.
Later, he told me that they were going to take me before their D.C, and he did. The D.C. also asked me some questions and I answered and I believe all the questions were based on, “Did the D.P.O release Waheed Kabir to you? Is there any personal relationship between you and the DPO, S.P. Remi Adesoye?” I told him that I didn’t have any personal relationship with any police officer, apart from discussing issues relating to security having I told him that am also a member of Peace and Security Committee in Ikorodu Local Government.
So, he then said okay and asked me to go and when I came back the following day, the O.C. called me and said that the DPO intended to speak with me. He asked where I was and I told him that I was at Ijebu and he said that the C.P. wanted to see me and I told him that I would be back on Saturday. He said that if I could come back on the second that I should come on the first. So, on the fourth, I quickly got down there by 9:30a.m, where I met the O.C and he took me to the D.C. The D.C told me that it was the C.P that wanted to see me.
Then, we went together to the C.P’s office and he now asked me, “Lanre, where is Waheed Kabir? I responded that I didn’t know his where about.” And he said that, if he was not making a mistake, that the DPO said he released Waheed Kabir to you and I told him that the DPO was still in his custody and that I dare the DPO to come out and confront me and say he released Waheed Kabir to me.
He did not release Waheed Kabir to me nor did I apply for Waheed Kabir’s bail. He said that about three weeks ago, he received a text message and when he began to search his phone, he read a message stating: “Please, sir, investigate one Lanre Olabinjo, he lives at 31 Ireshe Road, Ikorodu, the house of the father of the former governor of Lagos State, Captain Gbolahan Mudashiru, he will know the where about of Waheed Kabir.
So, I said, sir, I don’t expect such and he told me that the sender of the message would as well be waiting for the result. I asked him the name of the sender and he said there was no name attached. And I told him that he should not investigate me based on the text message for a capital offence like murder.
He asked if I didn’t know that to talk like that to him was an insult and I quickly apologized and told him that even the family of the boy in question can’t do this. I said that I dare anybody that have information concerning this matter to either face me in the police station or in the court of law and that I don’t know anything about the where about of Waheed Kabir. And he now said, “Go and detain him” and I said there is no problem. When I was about to go, he now called me back and asked if it was a Muslim or Christian? When I told him that I was a Muslim, he asked if I could swear with the Holy Qur’an and I said that I could. He said, that is where you lied and I told him that I don’t understand that and he said that a good Muslim would not swear with the Holy Qur’an and that they only use it to witness.
I responded that he was the one who mentioned the Holy Qur’an. He asked them to take me along and arrange an interview between me and the parents of Waheed Kabir. We then left and when we got to Panti, they took me to the counter and asked them to detain me.
On the following morning, the IPO called me and took me before the O.C and when I got there, I met Kabir’s father. Because he was the only person that I knew, it was there that I heard that one Pedro is the grandmother of Waheed Kabir. His mother was there and one other lady. From there we went inside the homicide section where we entered into his office. In the office, the police officers asked his father narrate what actually happened. He said that on the 20th, he heard that his son was arrested and he went to the station where he met the police officer-in-charge and he told him he was there for his son.
And they were about to perfect his bail when I came in. So, is father called him when he was taken back to the cell and said brother Lanre has “opened up”. The police officer asked what type of opening up is son referred to. He said he killed some people and if he has a way of killing himself (Waheed Kabir) he would do so.
He said he saw Lanre and pleaded that he should assist him in begging the DPO, which he declined. He said that the next day he went to Lanre’s office that Lanre drove him out and told him to go and meet the policemen and not him.
According to the father, after about a week they have been to Panti and other areas to search for their son because the DPO said that he had released him to somebody. Three days after, he saw somebody who was selling pure water who said he saw three masked men around 1:00am on 21st who abducted his son at the police station.
He said that he has been coming to the DPO to tell him the whereabouts of his son and the DPO said he released him to one Ibrahim Akala. They asked me and I told them my own side of the story, which I am telling you now.
The O.C then asked the father, where is he person who said he saw those who abducted your son and he said that he didn’t know his whereabouts since he met him on the road. The second question was on this person mention Lanre as one of the three men, who abducted your son, and he said no.
They asked, “Is there any member of the ‘Onyabo’ vigilante group that was there and he said yes that they told him there were three Onyabo’s men and his wife responded immediately and said no, “I was there when they were telling you and they did not mention Lanre or “Onyabo vigilante group.”
They said that three masked men came and abducted their son in the cell and they wore black T. Shirts and that was all. So they now begin to argue between themselves. Later he O.C now aksed the father, “Is it because you requested for the assistance of Larne to beg the DPO to release your son and he declined that you said he would know where about of your son?
And he said, is it Lanre that now gives order to the DPO and the Area Commander and so, the man now said, “Okay, there is no problem, let’s go to the IPO’s office.”
While we were going, they were arguing between themselves and the woman was saying that I have told you that you should not mention Lanre in this matter because all what they told us was that it was the DPO that arrested their son and he was the one hat said that he released him to somebody else and not Lanre.
So, we later went to the IPO and he said that he did not mention my name and I was still kept in the cell and I spend sixteen days before I was released.
ORIWU SUN: Was Cyan released to you or not?
- OLABINJO: The DPO said he released him to one Ibrahim Akala but what I told them at Panti was that from the investigation, which we did within ourselves here as community police, the name Ibrahim Akala do exist and that the man is one of the Aiye cult members in Ikorodu here.
He was, sometime, about ten years ago involved in an armed robbery case that he spent about nine years in prison before he was released. I have told them that I can assist the police in getting Ibrahim Akala. Some people call him Akala, while others call him Yinka. Then I even took the policemen to one of his brother in Ikorodu and I told them that Ibrahim Akala is a native of Ikorodu and the DPO, who released him to Ibrahim Akala, if he sees Akala, he will definitely recognize him.
ORIWU SUN: So, he was not released to you or the Onyabo Group?
- OLABINJO: He was not released to any member of the Onyabo Group or to myself.
ORIWU SUN: Looking at it, the raid that led to the arrest and the detention of Cyan was carried out solely, by the police. So, why is your group being linked to the abduction of Cyan?
- OLABINJO: I don’t know. It might be because of my appearance in the station, which was not even in the evening, I went to the DPO in the afternoon and they brought out those who were arrested at the notorious black spot in Ikorodu. That place is called Shelewu, which has been their base in Igbogbo. I was told that I was the one that gives order to the area commander and the DPO. I don’t know how a civilian would be giving an order to the security men. I believe there are people sponsoring the cultists (Team) and they are the ones sponsoring the killings.
We are having a security problem in Ikorodu. Ikorodu was a very peaceful area before now, until the arrival of the land speculators, (the Ajagungbales). If they storm a village, they would recruit these younger ones from the village.
From there, some of the drop-outs from the university would claim Eiye or Aiye and from there, they will start initiating them and that was what I told them in the state command. The other time I told them that even if they are arresting one hundred (100) Eiye or Aiye every day, it will not stop the menace.
The only solution, I told them was to fish out those sponsoring them and most of the leaders in Ikorodu know them and I wonder why they are not doing anything about them. The people troubling this division are the land speculators.
ORIWU SUN: You said you spent close to sixteen days in detention. Between the period you were arrested and detained, there were several cult activities in Ikorodu during which several lives were lost and some people believed that the inability of your boys to operate during those periods was because they were angry as a result of your arrest and detention. And secondly, because leaders in Ikorodu failed to do something to secure your release. How true was that, sir?
- OLABINJO: It is true because when it happened, I expected a lot from Ikorodu and they failed to rise up and say no, apart from the Oba and the two representative from Ikorodu, legislators in the person of Hon. SOB Agunbiade, who did a lot for me as well as Hon. Jimi Benson because they kept on sending people to me when I was there asking what we could do to see that the matter was resolved.
The Kabiyesi did a tremendous job because at a particular time he even went to the CP and also sent his lawyer as well. He even sent the Ajiroba of Ikorodu on several occasions to me. But I expected the masses, the community people who know how we operate to come out with their placards to the Oba and even the commissioner of police (CP) believe if they did that, they would know the challenges they were facing.
But when they did not do that, I felt weakened. Those who came to visit me also include the coordinator of ‘Onyabo’ Vigilante Group, Chief Kamoru Bombata and his Deputy Rafiu Onilegboro. He asked me to call them to come and make statements and after making statements they were released on bail. Then, I told them that they should not get themselves involved in any activities until they release me. Those who are sponsoring these people want the killings to continue and they will stop at nothing.
ORIWU SUN: Were you detained at the same police station with the DPO of Igbogbo police station? If yes, were you able to meet him to clarify the accusation that he released Cyan to you?
- OLABINJO: The day I was detained, he was at the counter and when they brought me to the counter and I saw when he called the D.C when the D.C was coming he told him that this man you brought here is an innocent person who knows nothing about the arrest, detention and even the release of the criminals.
ORIWU SUN: Coming down to your operation in Ikorodu, now that you have been released, are you ready with your boys to resume operation?
- OLABINJO: We are on ground because the day I was released, the O.C. (SA) did talk to me and he said that we should not relent in our efforts to make sure that peace reigns in Ikorodu. But even the D.C said we should continue but we should not do anything without the connection of the policemen and I told them that, that is how we have been operating and we still maintain that.
ORIWU SUN: What type of relationship exist between your group and the police concerning your operation?
- OLABINJO: We have a very cordial relationship with the police in Ikorodu and even everywhere.
ORIWU SUN: There is a remour that there is this pre-arrangement between your group and the police that each time a notorious cult member is arrested, he will be released to you for execution. Is that true?
- OLABINJO: How can we arrest a criminal and hand him over to the police and the policemen would later release him to us for execution? There is no law that empowers us to kill people and we don’t kill. I gave them examples of those arrested at night and handed over to the police immediately.
‘Small Jesus’ was arrested at night and we did not kill him but handed him over to the policemen. Dare Mosa was an armed robber who killed somebody at Ogijo and when we arrested him, we handed him over to the police at Ogijo. We have all the records of those we arrested and handed over to the police.
We have worked with so many police officers including CSP Alonge, CSP Onoja, CSP Dare, and CSP Aliyu.
ORIWU SUN: What is the relationship between Onyabo leadership and your members? Is there a rift within the hierarchy?
- OLABINJO: That is not true, although there is no organization without a rift. There would always be some disagreements but whenever there is any disagreement, we do call ourselves and resolve it. But presently, we don’t have any rift. The Onyabo in Ikorodu are one and we don’t have any problem.
ORIWU SUN: What is the vision and mission of Onyabo?
- OLABINJO: When we are in a meeting, we have a slogan and when we say Onyabo or OVG (Onyabo Vigilante Group), they will say, No to crime. We want to reduce the crime rate in Ikorodu to a drastic level so that we can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. I remember that when Anipole was the chairman, I spoke with him about the need to have a Security Trust Fund to safeguard some of this menace we are witnessing now.
Once the Trust Fund is on ground, people would contribute their quota especially as Onyabo don’t collect salary and during the time of Anipole, gave us five thousand naira (N5,000) per month. But surprisingly, the money was shared, some officers collected only two thousand Naira (N2,000) while some did not collect at all.
If there is a Security Trust Fund, at least, we will be using that to make sure that this thing is shared to everybody.
ORIWU SUN: As the Chief Operation Officer of Onyabo Vigilante Group, how do you ensure the security and safety of your boys, during operation? This is because the cultists are equipped with sophisticated weapons.
- OLABINJO: We put our own security in God’s hands because he is the overall security officer. They have attacked me more than four times in the past but I am still alive by the grace of God.
ORIWU SUN: What kind of support is your group getting from the government or leaders in Ikorodu to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of your operations?
- OLABINJO: We give kudos to kabiyesi of Ikorodu because when he was the Odofin of Ikorodu, he was the only person among the chiefs, who was contributing to the welfare of Onyabo. For example, sometimes he gave us money and sometimes he asked us to go to Conoil and collect fuel.
I also told you about the former local government chairman and the present one. He is also giving out two hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N250,000) from what I heard. I don’t know if they are giving every other person but I have never received money from anybody.
ORIWU SUN: If you are to make request from the leadership of Ikorodu or the state government, what would that request be?
- OLABINJO: We need bus and we need empowerment because we cannot be fighting with empty hands. We also need recruitment and equipment. The government should also bring Onyabo members into Neighbourhood Watch and start paying them salaries. If this is done you will see improvement and effectiveness in their operations.
ORIWU SUN: Is your operations extended to other parts of Ikorodu or is it only limited to Ikorodu town?
- OLABINJO: No, it extends to other areas. We do have Muwon in Epe and Muwon are part of Onyabo Vigilante Group. Bale of Agbowa are also part of Onyabo and ‘Ten Million Boys in Imota including others in other local government who are operating and using other names. If you go to Ogijo, you will see vigilante group there and if you go to Odogunyan, you will see ‘Yaago’ and they are also part of us.
ORIWU SUN: Apart from cultism, Ajagungbale and Omo-onile’s activities are the banes of Ikorodu Division. What is your group doing to combat them?
- OLABINJO: I have given several advice on that and I don’t know what the local government is doing. Formerly, the council chairman had advised several, that we could easily curb these problems but what we really had was the town hall meeting.
Let us call a town hall meeting that would comprise all the stake-holders. And then, let us all agree on a communique to end the menace of Ajagungbale in Ikorodu. And two, anybody caught for cult activities should be prosecuted. Then thirdly, anybody who takes a land speculator to their land should also be prosecuted and there should be a standing committee for that and Ikorodu land dispute committee.
The committees should comprise very reliable people in Ikorodu and it will cut across Christian and Muslims, NBA, youth organization representatives, Iyaloja, representative of the Oba and others. The land dispute in Ikorodu is the major problem the division is having in a glimpse, land dispute here is a situation where the Baale wants to ‘eat’ more than the Olotu and the children who are supposed to go and work want to deny their father of selling those lands.
They are supposed to go and work but they want to be doing noting and riding exotic cars, marrying many wives and spending money on fuji musicians. I believe there should be a communique signed by all of us and taken to the Governor and the Inspector General of Police to append their signatures of stem the tide of using policemen to arrest the hoodlums.
This is because sometimes the policemen will come in the morning and make arrests while they will still come back again. Sometimes they go together with the policeman. While they will be arresting them, others will be busy extorting money from people in the presence of the police.
ORIWU SUN: On a lighter note, there is a difference between Olabinjo Lanre as an operations officer of Onyabo and Olabinjo Lanre as a father and friend. Who is Olabinjo Lanre?
- OLABINJO: I am a very friendly person. Before I joined Onyabo I played football and also did organize football competitions. So, if you want me, you have to know me from there. I have also settled many cases involving killing of people even as far back as when Kaoli Olusanya was the Commissioner for Agric. He once called me to intervene in a matter, which I settled. I think it was during a fight between Itun-nla and Ojurowo.
When we settled the matter, I organized a football competition because I know that football do bring peace.
ORIWU SUN: Can you give us a brief history of your family and educational background?
- OLABINJO: I was born about forty eighty (48) years ago to the family of Ikutamiti in Isele, Ikorodu. My father is Saulabiu Ajadi while my mother is Samiat Ogunleye from Ogunleye’s family. I started my education from Salvation Army Primary School during the morning and evening classes. So, later during the Jakande regime, I was transferred to Jamatu Islamiyyah and from there to Ikorodu High School and left there in 1988. After that, I proceeded to Yaba College of Technology, where I obtained my OND in Business Administration. I played football, had a stint in technical college. I also studied Mechanical Engineering.
In 1991, I got a call to play football for NEPA Egbin where I played football actively. I also played for Niger Dock and Eko Meridian Hotels, among others. I later set up my own football academy and I am one of the coordinators of Aspire Afuta, the body that produced the World’s Best player today, Lionel Messi. I do organize football competitions because I happen to be the chairman of Premier Football Organization.
ORIWU SUN: What can people do to annoy you?
- OLABINJO: To annoy me is always very difficult because I am cool-headed. But I hate cheating and if anybody cheats you and am privileged to be there, you will see the other side of me.
ORIWU SUN: What is your best food?
- OLABINJO: Eba is my best food because I am a native man
ORIWU SUN: Are you married?
- OLABINJO: Of course, I am married with four children.
ORIWU SUN: In the course of the interview, you said local government do give money to Onyabo, but you are not part of those that share the money. Are you implying there is division within the Onyabo?
- OLABINJO: There is no division but there are some things I am supposed to tell you about the formation of Onyabo and that was the reason why when we were talking sometimes I said that Onyabo was the combined efforts of many groups.
When I started my introduction, I said that I am the chairman of the United Area Clubs, which is the conglomeration of all bases and clubs in Ikorodu. We were also fighting cults when started and we were moving round to get them arrested and take them to the station. Later, we heard that there were groups of security people bearing Onyabo and that they were also moving round.
You know also that at that time the OPC were doing their own parts but they disappointed the people of Ikorodu. And what did they do? Where there is fight between husband and wife, they would intervene, beat up the husband and begin to befriend the wife.
They are also among the people we are calling Ajagungbale today. When I saw this organization (Onyabo) I said that this is another capable group, which if given the support needed, would bring peace to Ikorodu.
We called on them, looked at what they were doing and saw that it is an organisaton we could use to ensure that there is peace in Ikorodu and we gave them the needed backing but while we were doing that, there were things that I began to hear. That was that they were paying them. But I advised that they should not be sharing the money but to use it for the procurement of uniforms and buying of vehicles to attract more visibility for possible sponsorship by corporate bodies.
ORIWU SUN: What would be your advice on peace to the leaders and people of Ikorodu?
- OLABINJO: Let there be town hall meetings comprising Iyaloja, the people of market – market men and women, the representatives of each family, Christians and Muslims, and community leaders etc. They should come together and speak with one voice denouncing the menace of the Ajagungbales in Ikorodu and other vices.
ORIWU SUN: What can you say about Oriwu Sun?
- OLABINJO: Oriwu Sun is trying but sometime ago I gave them a story and the story was not written to my satisfaction in the sense that my name was not mentioned. I took them to BE HAPPY Hotel and I was the one who gave them information about the operation and my name was not included in the story. But I really appreciate them because they are the only ones we are seeing in terms of reporting our activities even though we have other media houses in Ikorodu. One of the major problem we have had over time is that media houses in Ikorodu don’t give us enough coverage. But as far as coverage of ‘Onyabo’ activities is concerned, Oriwu Sun has really done well and we thank you and God for that.