the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State, where
scores of decomposing human bodies were
found, the forest, which lies on the bank of
Ogunpa river extension, the forest has yet to
be cleared.
After the visit of the state Governor, Abiola
Ajimobi, to the forest on Tuesday, he gave the
directive that the forest shpuld be cleared,
while buildings where eight people were
rescued would be demolished.
But on Wednesday when the demolition
began, a directive from the Oyo State Police
Command put a halt to the exercise. The
command said there was a need to do a
forensic evaluation of evidence found at the
site.
The state government agreed with the police,
pointing out that continuation of the
demolition would erase evidence sought by
the police.
It added that the exercise would be completed
on Friday.
However, the forest has yet to be cleared,
while it is not clear if the forensic exercise
has been carried out.
When contacted, the command's Public
Relations Officer, Olabisi Ilobanefor, directed
our correspondent to the state Commissioner
of Police, Mohammed Ndabawa, who in turn
did not give a specific answer to our
correspondent's question.
"Don't ask me that kind of question, we will
do the test when it is time," he said.
Meanwhile, residents around the Soka forest
have called on the government to clear the
land and put it to good use.
According to them, the discovery and
existence of such forest in the community is a
threat to them.
"The government should make good its
promise by clearing the forest. It is not safe,
especially after the discovery that it was used
by suspected ritual killers," said a Muslim
cleric and a member of landlords' association
in the area, Saheed Muhideen.
Caretaker committee Chairman,Ibadan South
East Local Government, Abass Najimdeen,
appealed to the youths to stop attacking mad
people.
The police had said 10 mentally deranged
persons had been handed over to them by
people who suspected that they feigned their
mental condition with intent to perpetrate
evil.
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