By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The CEO of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has claimed that political thugs who brutally attacked Bullion Hotel in Simawa, Ogun State, were allegedly aided by members of the Nigerian Police Force.
This startling accusation comes in the wake of a second violent assault on the hotel, which transpired on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
The incident, which left staff and guests traumatized, reportedly involved over 20 political thugs, purportedly led by three individuals wearing police uniforms. Mr. Ajadi recounted that this was the second attack, following a similar incident on September 5, 2023, when a group of thugs, some impersonating soldiers, stormed the Bullion Hotel.
According to Mr. Ajadi, the information he gathered and the ongoing police investigation indicate that these political thugs have been receiving support from the Shimawa Division of the Nigerian Police, as many of them remain unapprehended despite committing heinous crimes.
During the September attack, a security guard named Taiwo Lawal was severely injured while attempting to protect Mr. Ajadi. Rather shockingly, the security personnel responsible for capturing one of the assailants, Nwokparo Offor, were detained and subsequently charged by the Police, instead of Offor himself.
Working on the apprehension of the invaders, it has come to light that some of the hotel’s security personnel previously confronted the thugs in the nearby Shimawa Secondary School, where they were known to initiate themselves into criminal activities and terrorize innocent people in the town.
Four of these thugs, who invaded the Bullion Hotel on that fateful October morning, were apprehended and Shimawa Police officers were asked to pick the suspects to the Police Station.
Mr. Ajadi further alleged that, as the police vehicle left the Bullion Hotel premises for their station, Officer Lawal assaulted one of the hotel’s officers, John Osita.
He also claimed that after the police vehicle departed, some thugs arrived and began firing guns at the hotel’s security officers.
Adding to the chaos, the Bullion Hotel’s vehicle, which transported the security personnel and the suspects to the police station, was stoned by thugs near the police station, resulting in a damaged windscreen. Thankfully, the driver managed to escape unharmed.
The most recent attack on October 3rd occurred at approximately 8 a.m. The assailants identified themselves as “Alowonle’s Boys,” with Alowonle serving as the Chairman of Okada Riders in the Simawa Area of Ogun State.
What made this latest attack even more distressing was the alleged involvement of police officers who not only protected the thugs but also physically assaulted two hotel security personnel who were simply watching television in the hotel.
Several items were stolen during the attack, including mobile phones, a significant sum of money, and numerous power banks used for charging mobile devices.
Shockingly, four hotel security personnel, along with the Bullion Entertainment Manager, were apprehended during the commotion and labeled as suspects in the incident. These individuals were identified as Soji Ileyemi, Adedayo Opeyemi, Dauda Yusuf, Temitope Makinde, and Temitope Olajide, the Bullion Entertainment manager.
Ajadi said,” The five staff that were arrested on 3 October have been detained beyond 48 hours and it is not constitutional.”
“However, instead of releasing the two Bullion Hotel security officers, Jamiu Opeyemi and Alado, who took the suspects to the police station, were detained alongside the apprehended suspects, by Officers Lawal and Kenny,” he said.
The hotel’s CCTV system is playing a crucial role in identifying both the thugs and the police officers allegedly involved in the attack, providing vital evidence for the ongoing investigations.
The situation at Bullion Hotel has escalated, with a total of seven hotel staff members now in police custody, deepening the crisis that has gripped the establishment.
Authorities are urged to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into these disturbing allegations of police involvement in the attacks, as the safety and security of the community hang in the balance.