Ondo militant bags 10 years for possessing firearm

An Akure High Court has sentenced one Akpors Atunweseye said to be a militant to 10 years’ imprisonment for arm possession and terrorizing the people of Bolowo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The convict and two others were charged to court on a two-count charge of murder and illegal possession of firearms […]

An Akure High Court has sentenced one Akpors Atunweseye said to be a militant to 10 years’ imprisonment for arm possession and terrorizing the people of Bolowo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The convict and two others were charged to court on a two-count charge of murder and illegal possession of firearms and other offensive weapons.

Akpors Atunweseye, Eris Omoseebi and Erigbami Torunsintei were said to be members of a gang alleged to be terrorizing people in the creeks at Arogbo Ijaw area and alleged to be involved in the murder of two security men – Bamigbola Olugbo and Yekini Omosehin – at Bolowo, Ese-odo.

When their plea was taken, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Testifying before the court, Ajube Samson, a security guard with Gallery Security Services, said he received information about a planned attack on the security outfit by a gang in the area which had earlier attacked Akanaku community. 

He said he notified his employer who sent him and six other security operatives along with some men of the navy and army who accompanied the security men with their gun boat.

He said as the combined team approached the Ajapa creek, the gang opened fire on them killing two members of the security service and wounding two others including himself as he got hit on the leg, while another security guard got wounded on the arm and the leg.

In his judgment, Justice W. R. Olamide said there was no concrete evidence to tie the defendants to the murder at the creek.

On the illegal use of firearms, the judge convicted only the first accused person, Akpors Atunweseye as all the evidence tied him to the use of offensive weapons during the attack and was the only one arrested at the scene.

He said the second and third accused persons; a medicine man who they testified did charm for them, were discharged and acquitted after being in prison custody since 2015.