By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude on Thursday
said 18 suspects are now in police net in connection with theTuesday and Wednesday mayhem between rival groups in some parts of Ibadan.
CP Odude dropped this hint while speaking during his visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, on the incident in his Popoyemoja palace after he inspected the affected namely Oke-Ado, Foko, Apena, Gege, Isale Osi, Born Photo, Oopoyeosa, and Popoyemoja.
“We have come to visit the scenes to truly see what is going on, and see if we can identify the leaders and talk to them, and make sure we keep this town as peaceful as possible. We are not going to give any of these boys a chance. Anyone of them we get, we’ll deal with him according to the law. The residents for the affected areas and people of Oyo State should just live peacefully. We are on top of the situation.” he said
The Commissioner of Police while advising parents to caution their children against troublemaking asked yoyths in the troubled areas to desist from such nefarious activities, or be ready to face the music.
“Parents should appeal to their children, they should talk to them not to get involved with crimes, irrespective of the situation and unemployment is not an excuse for going into crimes. If children get involved with crimes, it can lead to something bigger than this.”
CP Odude while stressing that the number of suspects arrested in connection with the crisis has risen from 14 to 18, said the command is presently “screening them and we will charge them to court.”
“It was just a breach of peace. The ‘area boys’ tried to be funny with themselves. But we thank God, they did not kill anybody, and they did not even kill themselves. We have been on this matter for three days, persistently day and night. The ‘area boys’ would just come out, attack themselves, and withdraw. We have been on their neck. “
Receiving the Police Commissioner into his Palace, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji said he had been briefed on the fracas and he had summoned the family heads (Mogajis) of the affected communities and their environs to an emergency meeting with a view to finding a lasting solution to the incessant bloodbath in volatile areas of Ibadan.
It will be recalled that during the two days mayhem, hoodlums in the affected areas burgled houses, destroyed some shops and other property worth millions of naira during which dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, cudgels, broken bottles were said to have been freely used.
