Ibadan horror: Soka forest yet to be cleared

| credits: Olufemi Atoyebi

Nine days after the discovery of a forest at 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.

Source: PUNCH