More than three hundred operatives of the Onyabo Vigilante group, fully dressed in their blue and brown uniforms, converged on the Area ‘N’ Command of the Nigeria Police Force Headquaters in Ijede, on May 24, 2019, for a meeting with the police and other stakeholders. In the meeting presided over by the Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Shonubi Ajeloju and representatives of HRM, Oba Kabir Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu, the dissenting groups were urged to make peace and continue in their effort to fight crime in the community. ACP Ajeloju with the Oba’s representatives, Publisher of Oriwu Sun Newspaper, Chief Monzor Olowosago and the Ajiroba of Ikorodu, Chief Sulaimon Ogidi, deliberated over the matter for more than two hours and succeeded in reaching a common ground between the dissident groups.
After extensive deliberations at the police command, it was recommended that the vigilante group should honour Oba Shotobi who is assiduously striving to restore peace and order in Ikorodu. The Area Commander reminded the group of their promise to fight crimes, not fighting each other. ACP Shonubi charged the vigilante group to embrace peace and channel their grievances against the criminals who are making the residents’ lives miserable.
He alleged that since the vigilante started the leadership row, the rate of crime rose higher than it was. The resolution is that the group loyal to the late leader Kamorudeen Bombata, who has now adopted Nurudeen Oseni aka J.J. as its new leader, can maintain its jurisdiction while the group loyal to Lanre Labinjo should maintain its territory. However, they must all work in conjunction with an overall leader appointed by His Royal Majesty. The Onyabo Vigilante official vehicle in the custody of Nurudeen Oseni should be submitted to the police area commander who will in turn remit it to the Oba.
Chief Monzor Olowosago thanked the ACP for his pragmatic approach over the matter and charged the Onyabo group to focus on its mandate to securing lives and properties in conjunction with the police force. On behalf of Ikorodu residents, Olowosago thanked men of the vigilante group for their sacrifices and commitment to maintaining law and order. He advised members of the group to bury their hatchets and embrace peace, “You are doing a great job, the entire community are indebted to you. We appeal to you to make peace amongst your group. The more divided you are, the bigger the chances for miscreants to create chaos in the community. I advise you to go back to His Royal Majesty for further directives”, Olowosago pleaded with them. In response, the new presumptive leader of the Bombata faction, Nurudeen Oseni, thanked the dignitaries who mediated in the matter and pledged to lead his group to the palace for the Oba’s directives.
The Ijede-Ikorodu road became a sort of spectacle as several Onyabo operatives mounted over fifty motor bikes and fifteen vehicles and laced the road in plethora of convoy. They blew patrol sirens and hovered around the Ijede junction before heading to their various destinations.