Ikotun, Ijegun Resident Debunks Alleged Professional Misconduct Against Inspector Olopade

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Residents and business owners in the Ijegun and Ikotun areas of Lagos State have strongly debunked the alleged incessant cases of shooting, extortion, violent intimidation, harassment and other violent crimes claimed to have been perpetrated by Inspector Kolawole Olanrewaju Olopade, with AP No. 229055, popularly known as Olopade, attached to the CP Tactical Squad, Ijegun. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the residents therefore, urged the Police authority and the Lagos State Government to disregard such information because it was  orchestrated by hoodlums and criminals who are afraid of the purposeful disposition of Inspector Olopade to his duty.

According to the residents, the areas  namely Ikotun and Ijegun, which were mentioned by the faceless individuals are under the Ikotun and Isheri Oshun Divisions under the Area M Command, Idimu, led by the irrepressible Area Commander, ACP Tokunbo Aboniwonda.

Some of the residents and hotel owners denied any form of harassment, extortion and intimidation from Inspector Olopade and attested to his professional conduct in performing his lawful duty before he was transferred to another Division of the Lagos State Command.

The residents stated that the period Inspector Olopade worked at the Ijegun Tactical Squad, he acted professionally and caused criminals sleepless nights before he was transferred to another Division without any complaints from the residents.

According to the residents, when the information came that Inspector Olopade has been posted out of the area, the residents protested. But for the fact that it was a call to duty, they had to allow him to go.

Throughout the period Olopade worked at the Tactical Squad, he performed excellently well to the extent that criminals had to relocate to other areas because of the efficiency of the Police in the areas.

As for the Toyota camry car, with an Abuja registration number belonging to Inspector Olopade, it was not hidden that he bought it with his legitimate earnings and it is not in dispute.

According to the residents, Inspector Olopade worked under a Commander and Area Commander and there was no complaints against him before he was redeployed to another Division.

Some of the residents, who spoke to P.M.EXPRESS on the condition of anonymity over the publication on the social media, said those who are fighting Inspector Kolawole Olopade are mostly suspected cult members and criminal elements within Ikotun and Ijegun, who feel that Inspector Kolawole Olopade is an obstacle to their nefarious activities especially this December period they will want to strike, unknown to them that he has been transferred elsewhere.

“Several other cases of violence, extortion and framing innocent people for various crimes committed by criminals were successfuly repelled by Olopade” a resident said.

The residents wondered how Olopade would have committed all the alleged crimes and no member of the public reported to the high Command until he was transferred.

Some of the residents also narrated the professional conduct of Inspector Olopado on how he dealt with criminal elements in Ikotun area during the tenure of the former Divisional Police Officer in Ikotun, now the Area Commander in Agbor, Delta State.

Inspector Olapado, under the command of the CSP Adolf Ogwu, who is now an Assistant Commissiner of Police at Agbor, worked tirelessly in combating crimes in Ikotun Division, which made it a no-go-area for hoodlums and criminals within Ikotun and its environs.

“Immediately he was transferred to Ijegun tactical squad, he became a subject matter within the tactical personnel due to the wealth of experience he had acquired under the regime of DCP Abba kyari, Oyinade Adejobi now late and DCP Muhammed Sanusi, who is the present Commander of IRT at the FCT, Abuja.” a resident stated.

Checks revealed that from December 2022 to 2023 September, Inspector Olopade was in charge of both Surveillance and Anti Robbery unit of the Ikotun Division, where several archivements were recorded including recovery of cars from hoodlums and recovery of several stolen assets.

In 2018, he had a face off with the then most notorious robber a.k.a Femi Lighter. The group of robbery suspects opened fire on him but tactically he  dodged their shootings and  in the process the main gang leader was hit by the Police bullets in company of his team then attached to State SARS.

The gang leader was rushed to Igando General Hospital and he died due to injuries he sustained during the shooting under the then CP Edgar Imohimi now retired AIG.

When contacted for comment, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, could not respond to a call and message as at press time.