Written by Ogbonna Amadi
It was night mare for some patrons of the Afrika Shrine on December 15 when in a surprise raid by the Police more than 350 persons were arrested and several exotic cars were taken away.
As at the time of reporting our story several of those arrested have been jailed by a magistrate court.
The Afrika Shrine made available to Showtime an official press statement and this is also backed by further reactions from Yeni Kuti and the Police spokes man DSP Frank Mba.
On Saturday 15Th of December 2007 the regular patrons of The New Africa Shrine who come there to have a drink or watch the match of the day on our big screen TV were treated to a rude shock by the Nigerian Police when they barged into the premises without a search warrant asked every one to lie down and then marched them outside to lie on the streets.
Passersby on foot and in cars were also made to lie down on the streets while the Police proceeded to ransack the premises. No one was aware of what they were looking for.
Femi and Yeni’s rooms were also ransacked clothes and costumes were strewn everywhere. The patrons and staff were horsewhipped and musical instruments destroyed, The siege lasted till 5 am when the cars of the patrons totaling about 50 were towed away from the premises.
During the operation money and drinks were lost from the bar and restaurant.
Femi and Yeni who were called at their Akute Ogun State home, rushed to the scene and on arrival were allowed onto the premises and were shocked to see the state of the New Africa Shrine.
Speaking moment after arriving and taking stock of the damage to their property, Yeni Kuti lamented to Showtime. “We have always shared a cordial and friendly relationship with the police who come on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays to protect the property of the patrons and if there is any sign of trouble are contacted immediately.
Today we are shocked that they could come here without at least informing us if there is any trouble to do what they have done”.
Over 350 people were arrested and detained during the siege. No explanation was given as the arrests.
Femi and Yeni were at the task force office as early as 9 am on Sunday and spent about 12 and a half hours at the task force office where they were told unofficially that the Police had been looking for arms.
No such thing as arms were found on or around the premises. No Indian hemp was found on the premises of the Shrine as Femi and Yeni don’t allow sale of Indian hemp on the premises of the Shrine.
On Sunday most of the Shrine staff were released and a substantial number of their patrons also
The New Africa Shrine according to our investigation has always worked hand in hand with the Nigerian Police since its inception seven years ago and the management was alarmed that such an action was taken against it without informing the management if any such thing was suspected of its patrons who include honorable members of the society like doctors lawyers bankers and expartriates In fact for the Felabration Festival the shrine hosted a lot of visitors from abroad and last week Saturday, the Shrine played host to a popular American artiste Talib Kweli who came to do film a music video at the Shrine.
We have built up a reputation over the years and would not do anything to spoil that reputation so the allegations purported against us are false and defaming.
On the alleged jailing of some of those arrested at the shrine by a Lagos magistrate court, Yeni said, “It’s undemocratic. Most of those people sent to jail were innocent who couldn’t met with the N25,000 bail money the Police had asked for.
The whole exercise was unfair especially when you consider the fact that in this country so many people are trying so very hard to survive amidst hardship.”
Police Reacts
Police spokesman in Lagos DSP Frank Mba told Showtime over the phone that the raid at the Shrine was strategic and was informed by intelligence report that criminals were using the shrine as a meeting point.
“We were informed that criminals meet at the shrine to plan their activities and move from their. And at the end of their operation they return to the shrine to assess their operation and enjoy themselves.
Again on several occasions, we have recovered vehicles stolen at various parts of Lagos and abandoned near the shrine. So when we got all these reports, the Police decided it was time to carry out a mass raid in the shrine and its environ”.
On the issue of innocent people arrested during the raid, the Police spokesman said, “Its not everybody arrested by the Police that is a criminal. What we did could be likened to a fisherman casting his net in the sea. In the process, he’d captured different sea creatures and at the end select the edible ones and cast the others back into he sea.
So at the end of our raid, only 74 persons were charged to court and the rest released unconditionally”.
Vanguard Online Edition - Police raid Afrika Shrine, arrest 350, seize cars
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