April 5, 2018, remains a day the residents of Offa in Kwara, North Central Nigeria won’t forget so soon. On this day, daredevil armed robbers stormed their community for a robbery stint that would eventually claim thirty-three lives. A few days later, the police began a manhunt for the perpetrators and caught some of them. Over twenty of them were arrested but two names were prominent, Michael Adikwu and Kayode Opadokun.

Michael was a dismissed police officer that supplied guns and bullets to the gang and also partook in the robbery as he confessed to killing about twenty victims majorly Police officers due to the way he was booted out of the Nigerian Police Force. Kayode Opadokun is a member of the group that also took part in the robbery but his popularity stem from the fact that his father Ayo Opadokun the Convener of Coalition for Electoral Reforms (CODER) and a Chieftain of NADECO is a public figure.

Today, the whereabouts of Michael and Kayode is unknown as they’ve not been paraded by the Police. The rumor was that Michael was killed by the Police to coerce some confessions while Opadokun is enjoying a VIP treatment due to the status of his father in the society. An accusation the Police has denied but it’s evident the Police has turned the Offa robbery into a Saraki matter by parading one “AY” who claims to be a thug of the Senate President who also mentioned Adikwu as their arms supplier.

Once again, the Police is dragging its much contested integrity in the mud through the “disappearance” of Adikwu and Opadokun. It’s evident the police has a case to answer by not parading Adikwu. Opadokun disappearing suggests justice is can be subverted for the highest bidder. The Police is advised to parade these two individuals to redeem its battered image as soon as possible.

The ongoing macabre dance is an insult to the memories of the victims of Offa Robbery.

tosin adesina