By Joseph Onyekwere
A cleric, Prophet Martins Oni, has raised the alarm over a threat to his life in a petition he sent to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
Oni urged the police to urgently investigate the case of an assassination attempt, kidnapping and threat to life, perpetrated against him at his residence, 48 Erelu Damisa Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere Lagos by a group of thugs holding sway in the area.
In the petition written on his behalf by his counsel, Chief Nestor Okawarauba, Oni alleged that the thugs, in the early hours of November 29, attempted to kidnap and whisk him away to an unknown destination.
The petitioner claimed that the assailants came in an unmarked Suzuki bus, a Volkswagon Jetta and a Toyota Camry.
He said they laid a siege on his premises from 6:00am to 6:00pm, while the group leader who shot some rounds of ammunition on the air boasted that their mission was to kidnap and kill him.
Oni said his assailants accused him of refusing to surrender his property at Plot 15, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ijeshatedo, Surulere Lagos, which is still a subject of litigation at the Court of Appeal in Lagos.
The petitioner said the assailants did not meet him at home on their first visit, but knocked at his door, made some incantations and left, promising to return, get and eliminate him.
Oni said the hoodlums returned December 1 and laid a siege at the residence, shooting and threatening they would continue their siege until they succeed.
The counsel claimed that Oni and members of his family, who have abandoned their home, are now living in perpetual fear, as the gang of thugs and their leader were capable of carrying out the threat.
Okawarauba stressed that his client had not done any wrong to warrant such an attempt on his life and blamed those he described as land grabbers, who want to take over his land.
The lawyer therefore, urged the AIG to direct immediate investigation into the matter as his client has now gone into hiding to protect himself from attack.
