Gun Men Allegedly Invade Tin Can Island Port, Steal ANLCA Operational Bus?

Trouble looms at the Tin Can Island Port of Lagos, as the leadership crisis within the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has taken a dangerous twist, even as
gun men reportedly, Sunday morning invaded the Secretariat of the association and stole its operational bus.

In a press statement sent to our correspondent by the Vice Chairman of Tin Can Chapter, Chief Mike Okolichi, he alleged that the invasion was master minded by the factional Chairman of the chapter, Mr Ojo Akintoye and his recently appointed executives.

The association alleged that its operational bus, a Toyota Hiace bus, which was donated last year by the immediate past Chairman of the chapter, Prince Segun Oduntan was taken away. However, the second operational bus, a Sienna bus, could not be towed because it was on parking brake.

The gun men reportedly chased away Seaview Property Security men guarding the premises, while allegedly brandishing their guns and threatening to harm the security officials.

The security officials reportedly instituted the case immediately at the Tin Can Island Port Police Station.

The statement says “ANLCA Tincan Island Chapter Secretariat was invaded under Guns and Weapons by the Factional Head Ojo Peter Akintoye , Wasiu Osinowo & Wale Iku”

“At the early hours of today 30/05/202, Sunday Morning, while members are suppose to be at the Churches and Mosques , Ojo Peter also know as OPA invaded and Rob the secretariat of Tincan Chapter with Guns & Other Deadly weapon in there hands, they chased the Seaview Property Security Men away from their post and forcefully gain entry into the premises with towing vans to toll the 2 Vehicles and made away with other valuable things like Money and relevant documents”

“They were only able to tow the Toyota Hiace Bus with Valuable things left inside as at Friday after close of work”

However, when our correspondent contacted Mr Ojo Akintoye, he debunked the allegations.

He told our correspondent that the allegations against him was total falsehood, adding that he was in a church as at the time the attack was allegedly carried out.

Mr Akintoye noted that National Secretariat have already issued the Chairman, Alhaji Mojeed Muhammed, an ultimatum to vacate the Tin Can secretariat he is occupying because he is not known to the NECOM.

He said Mojeed was given 48 hours to return all association properties in his possession which he failed to obey.

“They must have seen my ghost, I was in church today, immediately I came back from church, I have left for a part in Aja” he said

“The National Secretariat have written Mojeed and his executive to release properties of the association in their hands to the National Secretariat”

“If the authority have asked them to surrender the property of the association and they refused, if the authority finds any other means to recover their property, is there any crime in that?

“Are you aware that Mojeed has been towing the line of war? He and his supporters have attacked me twice, I reported the matter at the police station, the second attack that happened was on 5th of May 2021, he sent people to attack me at 5 Star Logistics Terminal”

“I was seriously injured and landed in the hospital. I have never in any occasion asked my people to attack him, for the past six months he has been occupying that office, I have never confronted him in anyway”

“He has continued to threaten me that whatever it takes for him to deal with me, he would do it” Ojo narrated.

In a letter to Mojeed Muhammed, dated 25th of May 2021, signed by ANLCA National President, Tony Iju Nwabunike, he said “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that You, MOJEED AKANNI unlawfully persist to occupy the ANLCA Tincan Island Chapter Secretariat which is situated at Savol Building, NPA Complex, within the property and premnses of ANLCA”

“This untold and illegal act of yours as we see it is calculated at causing mayhem and disturbing the smooth running of the affairs of that chapter and the association and in no way can we condone such acts”

“You are hereby given 48 hours from the date of receipt of this notice within which to take out every belonging of yours from the premises and also hand over all properties belonging to the association in your possession to the Chairman, Mr Ojo Peter Akintoye or to the National Secretariat so that the office could be cleared and no excuse as to why failure to comply with this diregtive will be entertained”

Our correspondent in an attempt to get the true picture of the incident reached out to the National Vice President of ANLCA, Dr Kayode Farinto Collins and he said he was not aware of the invasion.

He told our correspondent that he was just arriving from a church service to hear calls about the alleged invasion.

Recall that ANLCA has been engulfed in leadership crisis since year 2018, even as the association is now fictionalised with two chairmen laying claim to all the chapters of the association in the South West.

Apart from the National Executive Committee (NECOM) at the centre, Board of Trustees (BOT) is controlling another faction.