•Armed Policemen
By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Tension took the better part of Friday morning in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital as scores of armed policemen stormed the popular phone market, TARMAC, and sacked all IT business operators within the hub.
The armed Police operatives deployed from Ogun State Police Command to the Tarmac popularly referred to as the Silicone Valley of the Gateway State because of the volume of IT related businesses going on there, arrived the place for a predawn occupation of the facility – they sent away all who attempted to enter the hub for the day’s business.
The Daily Crucible learnt that the policemen who were brought to the TARMAC in no fewer than 18 Hilux Pick up Vans around 5:30am, came to enforce a court order granted by Ogun State High court in early 2020.
It was learnt that one Joseph Okeowo Fakoya family in Ibara had obtained an enrolment order from the Ogun State High Court to take possession of the land which was estimated to be well over an acre.
The phone dealers and technicians occupied the place and turned it into bustling phone and allied markets during the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
One of the leaders of the associations domiciled inside the Tarmac was said to have been arrested by the fierce looking security operatives who also cordoned off all entrance to the facility following fracas that ensued when the operators were demanding the rational for their sudden eviction.
The Mobile Phone Dealers and Technicians Association (MOPDATEC) who are occupiers of the market were seeing gathering in large numbers and discussing their frustrations over the inability to gain access to their shops.
The Police Spokesperson in the State, SP Omolola Odutola when contacted, said she would make inquiry to ascertain what the situation was at the Tarmac.
