Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Monday mandated the Oyo State Police Command to fish out the perpetrators of mayhem at different locations in the state, saying that anyone arrested should be treated like a hardened criminal.
The governor, who was on an on-the-spot inspection to Idi Arere, Asaka and Oja’gbo areas of Ibadan; the locations of the mayhem in the company of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude and his men as well as senior government officials, said that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will do the assessment of the loss in order for government to help the victims.
Governor Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, stated that the government will not fold its hands and allow some miscreants to truncate the peace, security and safety restored to Oyo State in the past seven years, warning that stiff measures will be meted to all those who cause mayhem and wreak havoc in the state.
He urged politicians not to politicize the activities of these hoodlums bent on creating hardship for the people, noting that they should rather join hands with the government to condemn their activities and provide useful information to the law enforcement agents to nip the situation in the bud.
The Governor said, “One of the cardinal programmes of this administration is securing the lives and properties of the citizens and we will leave no stone unturned to see that peace and security is sustained. These hoodlums are humane, callous and barbaric and they should be treated as such. The State Government will do all within its reach to ameliorate the pains of the affected persons and the perpetrators of this evil act will be brought to book in due course.
“We want to appeal to our citizens to vigilant and provide useful information to the law enforcement agents. Also, our parents should take care of their wards and warn them against being the agents of destruction. The government will not hesitate to enforce its power on whoever is bent on causing crisis in the state,” Governor Ajimobi added.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mr. Abiodun Odude urged the people to show understanding during the response of the men of the force to distress call, stating that the police need more intelligence to get its work done.
Odude disclosed that 11 people had been arrested in connection with the Idi Arere mayhem, urging the people not to hesitate in feeding the security agencies adequate information which will lead to the quick arrest of the hoodlums involved in the mayhem.
