The Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat was invaded by the Lagos state police on Friday and
some peace corps officials were apprehended in the Peace Day celebration organized by the African Democratic Development Initiative in collaboration with Shelter of Grace Foundation.
Amb. Dickson Akoh, the National Commandant, Nigeria Peace Corps, Abuja, was listed in the programme of the event to give a public lecture as the guest speaker.
The Bell Times correspondent who witnessed the incident report that the Peace Corps members who were already at the secretariat, standing together at the extreme end of the secretariat compound waiting for the commencement of the programme were in a Gestapo style surrounded by fully armed policemen from the Igbogbo police command and in company of Oyabo, an Ikorodu local vigilante group.
It was observed by our correspondent that effort by the staff of the secretariat, led by Princess Folasade Olabanji-Oba, the Vice-Chairwoman of the Local Government proved abortive as her plea for them to let go was rebuffed by the policemen.
The police officers quickly rounded them up and ushered them out of the building into waiting vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Lagos command on Friday announced the arrest of 34 officials of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, a para-military organization.
Olarinde Famous-Cole, spokesman of the command, who disclosed this said the officials would be charged to a mobile court on Saturday.
The command has arrested 34 members of the Peace Corps,” he said.
The organization is illegal, therefore the command would charge the suspects to a mobile court tomorrow.”
Famous-Cole did not give details of the offense committed by the officials.
Police invade Ikorodu LGA secretariat, arrest Peace Corp officials
The development is a setback for the organization which has enjoyed relative peace since July when the Senate passed the Nigerian Peace Crops bill.
On March 1, security operatives stormed the headquarters of the organization in Jabi, Abuja, and arrested Dickson Akoh, commandant of the corps, alongside 48 officials.
Several staff of the organization were said to have sustained injuries in the joint raid by operatives of the Nigerian army.
