The traditional ruler of Oreke-Okegbo community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Sunday Adefila, has disputed information released by police regarding the recent deadly attack at a mining site that claimed the lives of two mobile policemen.
In a telephone interview on Saturday, the monarch clarified that the incident did not occur in his domain as reported. "The incident did not occur in Oreke-Okegbo as claimed by the police, but in Oreke-Oke," Adefila stated.
Setting the Record Straight
Adefila, a former General Manager of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), emphasized that there is no mining facility in Oreke-Okegbo community. "The incident happened at Oreke-Oke as there are two Orekes in the area," he explained.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in the killing of two mobile policemen and the abduction of two others, including a Chinese national and a Nigerian miner. The armed assailants also reportedly took the rifles of the deceased officers.
Ransom Demand
According to police sources, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of ₦1 billion for the release of the two captives. The high-profile abduction has raised concerns about security at mining sites across the state.
"What is going on in this country? The incident was not in Oreke-Okegbo, no mining site is situated in my community and as the Kabiyesi of Oreke-Okegbo community, I debunk the story inasmuch as we have two Orekes, and mine is Oreke-Okegbo," the traditional ruler stated.
Oba Adefila has called on the police command to retract its report on the incident to correct public perception, noting that he has been "bombarded with calls from within and outside the country" following the viral report.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, for comments were unsuccessful as of Sunday.
The incident adds to growing security concerns in the region, with mining sites increasingly becoming targets for armed attacks and kidnappings.
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