Oluwatosin Enesi
The Ogun State Police Command has declared Portable, a popular Nigerian singer, wanted for allegedly leading a violent attack on government officials.
According to the police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, the declaration follows an incident where Portable and his thugs attacked three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development who were conducting an enforcement exercise at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota.
The officials, identified as TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi, encountered Portable’s father at Odogwu Bar in the area and requested the approved building plan.
However, Portable allegedly arrived at the scene, armed with a gun and other weapons, and led a group of nine men in an attack on the unarmed government officials.
Odutola stated that the officials encountered an elderly man, later identified as Portable’s father at Odogwu Bar in the area. Upon introducing themselves and requesting the approved building plan, they were informed that Portable was unavailable.
“However, moments later, Portable, armed with a firearm and other weapons, and led a gang of nine thugs in a violent attack on the unarmed officials,” Odutola said.
She added that the enforcement officers sustained injuries but managed to escape and reported the incident to the Ota Area Command, which escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
While nine accomplices were arrested, Portable reportedly fled and has since gone into hiding.
Odutola stated that multiple invitations were sent to Portable, requesting his presence at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters in Abeokuta, but he ignored them without cause or legal representation.
“Following his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted,” she said.
The police urged the public to provide any information that could lead to Portable’s arrest, warning that anyone found aiding or harbouring him would face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, two weeks ago, nine of Portable’s associates were arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, on a five-count charge, including felony, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The defendants, who allegedly attacked officers of the Ota Zonal Planning Office armed with cutlasses and guns, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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