Mr. Moses Oparemi, the father of a newly recruited Policeman who drowned while chasing hoodlums in Oyo has revealed that the family had accepted their fate.
OYOINSIGHT.COM reported thatOklagoke, a newly recruited constable, with another colleague identified as Ogunyemi Mujeed, drowned at Awerintu River, Oke Eletu, Oyo, Oyo State, while chasing hoodlums terrorising the area on July, 12.
Speaking with PUNCH, Mr. Oparemi, who said the deceased was the last of his three boys, noted that he hoped to get over the development which he described as heartbreaking.
“My wife and I are trying to get over the incident,” he said in a voice laden with palpable grief.
He stated further, “He was a hardworking, obedient and loving son. He was recruited as a constable into the police about three months ago. After his secondary education, he learnt the making of aluminium windows. He later saw a vacancy for recruitment into the police, applied and was shortlisted. He thereafter attended the police training college. He started work as a policeman three months ago.
“When he told us about his interest in joining the police, I wasn’t bothered because I reasoned that if the parents of the current Inspector-General of Police discouraged him, he wouldn’t be the IG today. Myself and my wife agreed though if left to her alone to take the decision, she wouldn’t allow him.
“He was transferred to Oyo-East council area after the training at police college alongside 11 other new recruits from Oyo-East. But on Sunday, July 12, 2020, I received a call around 10pm from the Durbar Police Station that we should report to the Divisional Police Officer’s office the next day. I didn’t suspect any untoward incident because I am a former Chief Security Officer of the Oyo-East chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria. I concluded that the call was in relation to the crusades we usually hold as a body. I am a regular face in the area and the station.”
The bereaved father added that after the call ended, his wife said since their son was working in the station, they should call him to know why they wanted them to come around.
“We tried his mobile over 20 times but it was not reachable. We called back the caller to ask if there was any problem and he said everything was fine and they only wanted to see us. We were worried because our son would always return our calls and if he was busy, he would call us to say he would find time to call back.
“We couldn’t sleep throughout the night. By 5:30am, I was already at the station where I met some people around crying. I instantly knew that a tragedy had befallen me. I was later led into the DPO’s office who broke the news to me and appealed to me to take heart. It was shocking to me. I gathered that two policemen and a vigilante slipped and drowned in a damaged canal in the area while chasing some hemp smokers. I felt that we should have been informed immediately the incident happened rather than waiting the next day. We would have been around even though we knew we cannot bring him back to life. If the channelisation of the place was effectively done, they would have swum to safety. I was surprised at where they drowned because it wasn’t deep but the water was static. I visited the place and they started clearing the debris the next day after the incident.
“We are Christians and my wife is trying to get over the incident which has left her very sad. She even came to meet me that day at the station when I had yet to return home by 8pm. There’s nothing to say about it than we have accepted our fate. We have accepted it as the will of God. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
One of the brothers of the late cop, Oluwafemi mourned him on Facebook on July 14.
He wrote, “Oparemi Olagoke Clement. My blood, my brother, my friend, my paddy, my one and only younger brother. Why did you choose to leave us with tears in our eyes? We love you but God loves you more. Forever you shall be in my memory. Rest in the bosom of your saviour my galant aburo.”
One of his friends, Michael Olayemi Samuel, also wrote on Facebook, “It saddens my heart the moment I heard of your death. I try to take heart but suddenly I saw water coming out from my eye. I tried to bear the pain but unfortunately I cannot. PC Olagoke Oparemi alias Opa, GOK. He’s my intimate friend from secondary schools we share lots of things together. We played together (and) went to Iya ibeji Eleba that time (sic) together. This death was not do good o, bcos he suffered a lot. From the picture above is when we meet last at police headquarters at Eleyele, Ibadan last year for police screening which we do as we nomarly did in school life. Fortunately, he made it to the final stage before he met his demise. He is a police officer but it was painful to hear your passing (on). Almighty God will give your parents the heart to bear the great loss.”
