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FRIDAY , OCTOBER 21 , 2016 ... City , Crime , Courts 08185225745 , 08055126196

Suspected robbers kill

• Joseph
Chukwudi Akasike , Port Harcourt

REUBEN Izu , the elder brother of late Joseph Izu , who was killed by operatives of the Joint Military Task Force , said on Thursday that his brother was not a cultist .

Joseph was killed during a raid by the JTF in Okaki community on Sunday after he allegedly identified himself as a player with the Shooting Stars Sports Club ( 3SC ) of Ibadan , Oyo State .
The Nigerian Army had claimed that the late footballer was shot near a cultists ’ shrine in Okaki .
But speaking to our correspondent on Thursday , Reuben said the claim of the military that his younger brother was found near a shrine was a lie .
Reuben explained that the shrine in Okaki was a traditional shrine , maintaining that the community had no issue of cult clashes .
“ The claim by the military is a lie . It is sad that my innocent brother was shot and the military authorities decided to cover it up .
“ I think the army should locate the actual persons responsible for the killing instead of covering up for its men .
“ Joseph brought out his identity card , but they still killed him . Is that how to treat even a criminal ?
“ There is no cultists ’ shrine in Okaki ; the only shrine there is a traditional shrine and it is far from where my brother was killed ,” Reuben added .
He also lamented that the
File photo

Late 3SC player not a cultist , says brother

Rivers State Government had yet to contact the family since the incident occurred .
Reuben urged the state Governor , Chief Nyesom Wike , to intervene in the matter and ensured that Izu family got justice .
He said , “ Nobody has contacted the family . We beg the government to come to our aid to help us get justice .”
Samson Folarin

A bricklayer , Adeleke Oyadara , has been tortured to death in Kujore , Iwelepe , in the Sagamu area of Ogun State , after he was accused of robbery .

PUNCH Metro learnt that a businesswoman , identified only as Bolanle , had claimed that she was robbed by the deceased on September 10 .
Bolanle , around 8pm of the next day , was alleged to have gone to Adeleke ’ s house with some hoodlums .
They were said to have descended on the 50-yearold and beaten him to a pulp before putting him in a truck they brought .
Our correspondent learnt that on the way , the group was intercepted by some vigilance group members , who took the case to the Sagamu Police Division .
The victim was said to have been referred to a hospital , and died a few weeks later .
The victim ’ s wife , Toyin , said her husband was taken away from the house around 8pm on September 11 .
Olaleye Aluko and Peter Dada

THE Mobile Police Officer in charge of the convoy of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State , DSP Idowu Oyewole , has been shot dead by suspected armed robbers in Akure , the state capital .

PUNCH Metro learnt that 45-year-old Idowu , a father of three , died between Wednesday and Thursday after a threeman armed gang invaded the Sango area along Akure-Owo Road , where the policeman lived .
Our correspondents gathered that the robbers had attacked neighbouring houses at about 8pm on Wednesday and Idowu had gone out with his service pistol to dislodge the robbers .
It was learnt that the robbers exchanged fire with the governor ’ s aide , and he escaped from the scene with gunshot injuries .

It was gathered that the officer was not seen until on Thursday when residents found his lifeless security aide

body on the ground . He was said to have died as a result of the gunshot injuries he sustained during the shootout with the robbers .
Sources told our correspondents that the incident had thrown the

Ogun bricklayer accused of

She said , “ On that day , a man knocked on our door around 8pm . Suddenly , a woman , who had hid behind him , emerged , and held my
• Adeleke on a hospital bed
• Idowu during his decoration as DSP
husband by the waist .
“ She claimed that my husband robbed her in a cab the previous day . My husband denied it and my attempt to explain that my husband was with me throughout that day fell on deaf ears .
“ The man slapped my
Photo : Samson Folarin
Photo : Naij . com
husband . They dragged him to where they parked their truck and five hoodlums came down and beat him to a pulp and drove off with him .”
One of the victim ’ s children , Emmanuel , said he reported at the Sagamu Police Division , adding that he was writing his report when the group brought his father to the station .
“ The police referred us to a hospital for treatment ,” he added .
Emmanuel said his father was admitted at the hospital for about a month before he was taken back home due to the hospital bills , which the family could not afford .
The son said he was later taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital .
“ While on admission , the woman wrote a petition to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department , Eleweran . The policemen there demanded that we brought my father from the hospital because they thought he was pretending .
“ He was at the SCIID when