Landlords storm police command, report suspected homosexual rapist

No fewer than 25 landlords from the Temidire, Alagbado area of Lagos State stormed the premises of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, on Wednesday to report a suspected homosexual in the area.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the complainants, who were led by the Baale, Alhaji Najimu Abioye, submitted a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, saying that the residents’ lives were in danger as the suspect continually harassed them with thugs.

They alleged that the suspect, identified as Alhaji Tunji, had raped many young men in the area, and usually moved with thugs to collect money from traders and the people building houses in the community.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the Baale said the matter had been reported to the police at the Alagbado division, adding that Tunji continued to “buy his way out, and terrorise us with hoodlums.”

He said the recent activity of the Alhaji was to take possession of people’s lands, boasting that he could not be arrested.

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He said, “Tunji is a gay. He has raped several boys in our area. The father of one of the victims is here with us.

“We have reported him to the police at Alagbado, but he went to Area G, Ogba, and lied that we brought hoodlums to his house and burgled it. At that time, he left the area, but resurfaced later to start another round of trouble.

“Now, he is taking over people’s plots of land and selling them. He has thugs who work for him to unleash mayhem. That is why we have run to the police to help us tame him. He is also a gay. The father of one of the victims is here.”

The father of the victim, who did not want his name in print, called his son, Olufemi (pseudonym), on the phone and asked PUNCH Metro to speak with him.

The son, who worked as a plumber, told our correspondent on the phone that he had gone to work on Tunji’s property, when the suspect lured him to a room, and asked him to undress.

He added that he ran out when Tunji attempted to sleep with him.

He said, “About two weeks ago, one of my friends called me that there was work to do at the Alhaji’s house. When I got there, he began to ask me questions.

“On the evening of the third day, I was with him in his living room and he asked me to enter his bedroom, He then asked me to start undressing. Eventually, I ran out of the house.”

PUNCH correspondent gathered that the police had invited the suspect for interrogation.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on the telephone, Tunji said there was nothing true in the allegations levelled against him.

He added that the Baale had a habit of extorting money from the landlords to realise his selfish ends.

He said, “There is no truth in what they are saying. Who is running after those aged landlords?

“The fact is that the Baale is not even entitled to that position, but he has formed a caucus, and extorted from the landlords.

“He lied to them that he will fight their cause.

“Did you see any land agent that does not have co-workers? I don’t have thugs. I have co-workers. When I visit the landed property under my supervision and some people try to fight us, there is no evil in fighting them back.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said he would get back to our correspondent on the matter.