About a year ago, Soka, a normal industrial community in Ibadan, became infamous and somewhat notorious. Nationwide, Soka became a word that evoked horror, fear and inexplicable twinge from Nigerians.
Words failed to capture the terrifying realities that were uncovered in a seemingly peaceful and almost uneventful community on 22 March, 2014. As a matter of fact, an abandoned property at the Idi Mangoro area of Soka community was given the epithet ‘the house of horror’ because of the atrocities that reigned supreme within the property, mirroring a despicable level of inhumanity.
Last year, about 15 frail looking people, who were suspected to have been kidnapped, and were chained, were discovered at the heinous hideout of the kidnappers. Other items indicating blooming activities of kidnap and ritual killings, including guns, cutlasses, human bones, skulls and decaying corpses were uncovered.
Quickly, the discovery attracted passersby and the foreign media, and Soka became another Mecca. Men, women and children (both young and aged) rushed to the area to confirm the stories that were spreading all over Ibadan, like skin disease on the destitute.
However, as seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days and days ultimately became weeks, the news about the house of horror diffused into the air. It was remembered sparingly and whispered amongst the people, but one question remained pertinent. What would become of the Idi Mangoro area, where the abandoned property was discovered? It’s a year now and the residents have not forgotten.
Nigerian Tribune visited the Soka community recently to do an exposé on what has become of the area, a year after the obnoxious occurrence that shocked the substratum of the community. It was observed that in the place where the abandoned property that once served as a dungeon for allegedly kidnapped individuals and home for unscrupulous dismemberment of humans, now boasts multiple bungalow-like buildings that have been raised to lintel levels. Block-making machines and other construction materials were found lying around at the site.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, some security personnel at Radiant Agro Allied Ventures Limited, a company that specialises in the manufacture of flexible packaging material, located adjacent to the construction site, explained that construction had commenced at the site about three months after the suspicious activities came to light. However, they had no concrete details about the construction project or its developers. They also added that it is being speculated, however, that it is a government project.
They further added that if it is truly a government project, then they urge the government to complete it because abandoning it could lead to graver consequences as some street boys, popularly known in the local parlance as omo ita, have been sighted on several occasions, smoking and gambling in the premises.
They equally expressed their appreciation to the state government for opening up the area. Stressing that it used to be a thick forest before the March 2014 incident, the government opened up the area, creating a road that runs all through to the expressway. This, in their opinion, would deter criminals from carrying out their evil activities as they would be faced with the challenge of being discovered.
There has been perfect peace in the area –Community Leader
In an effort to further establish the state of activities at the area after the infamous label was forced on its neighbourhood, residents of Soka community spoke to Nigerian Tribune. Honourable Segun Adepoju, a politician and community leader, told Nigerian Tribune that “things have taken a different dimension. There are lots of projects going on there now and there has been perfect peace in the community.”
Speaking on the on-going construction of a school on the site, Adepoju said: “We learnt that the school is a Federal Model Girls’ College. Though work has stopped for almost a month now, we want to appeal to the government not to abandon the project. We also want to appeal to government to commence the construction of the abandoned bridge over the Ogunpa River. If that bridge is constructed, it’ll serve as another exit for the community, so that passage to and fro our community will be easy. We want government to also provide us with a market where our women can trade, so we won’t have to go far to make our purchases.”
Speaking on the level of sensitivity usually attached to jokes about the occurrence at Soka, Adepoju stated that “I feel very embarrassed. The issue has been really over flogged. Even those who come visiting from Lagos, subtly refer to Soka as a jungle but their conceptions are changing gradually.”
‘People are renting apartments again’
Speaking on the state of security in the area, Adepoju further noted that “Soka is very safe; I want to appreciate the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sanyo Division, for dispatching patrol teams all over the area. This has greatly improved the security situation. People are more comfortable to rent homes here and move in with their families now.”
Annez Ifeji, another resident who spoke with Nigerian Tribune observed that; “We need government to continue providing social amenities for us; the bridge over the Ogunpa River should be re-built and the market promised us should be created. We don’t want the place to be abandoned again.”
He, however, described the initial situation as a really pathetic one. “As a matter of fact, some drivers would tell you they won’t stop at Soka, especially at night. It was really disturbing.”
Positive change has come for Soka –Resident
For Femi Abobade, change has come for Soka. “We’re experiencing changes now. The bush has been cleared and a construction project is ongoing at the site. We just appeal to government not to abandon the project.” He appealed to government to construct an alternative route for the community that would link Lead City University, so that anytime there is traffic jam on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the road could be used.
Esther Adewole, another resident, also corroborated others on the state of improvement currently experienced by Soka community.
According to her, “things have improved now. On the on-going project, it looks like they have stopped working but I want to appeal to the government not to abandon the project.” She thus pleaded with the government to make the provision of social amenities and security in the area matters of priority.
A rather elated Solomon Agboola, another resident, told Nigerian Tribune that “it is relatively peaceful now. The government is constructing a school on the site. We were told it is a federal government project. We are really happy about that; we only want to beg the government not to abandon the project.”
A cross section of artisans and motorcycle operators who spoke to Nigerian Tribune also confirmed the relative peace currently enjoyed in the area, stating that people have been going about their businesses without fear. They, however, urged the government at all levels not to abandon the on-going construction on the site, as well as to provide more amenities for them.
Rehabilitation still ongoing—Govt
In his reaction, the Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, told Nigerian Tribune of the state government’s efforts in the area.
According to him, “As we have said countless times, Soka is a forest that predated the Ajimobi government. We are not running an infallible government and we acknowledge that we should have converted that land mass into a productive venture for our people, as against the neglect by our predecessors.
“With the discovery of its being used as a ritual den, our government went to the drawing board and began a rehabilitation of the forest. We have just completed a comprehensive health centre there and a community market for the people, in line with the governor’s promise to the Soka people.
The governor also instructed the local government to construct a public primary school for the community. That is ongoing now. When the Federal Government asked our government for a land to build school, we also gave them a land there so as to populate development at Soka. The governor has also promised to do more for the Soka people immediately he comes back for second term.”
