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We Are On The Trail Of Hoodlums Who Set Igboho’s House Ablaze – Police

The Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday said it was pursuing yet unidentified hoodlums who set ablaze Sunday Igboho’s house in Ibadan.

Channels Television earlier reported that the house of Igboho, the man at the centre of the recent eviction controversy in Oyo State, had been razed in the early hours of Tuesday.

“At about 0620 hrs of today 26/01/2021, report was received at Santo Police Station that some unidentified hoodlums came to Sunday Igboho’s house at SOKA area of Ibadan in a Hummer bus and Micra firing sporadically, and set the house ablaze,” the police said.

“The mini sitting room got burnt in the process while amount of other properties is yet to be estimated.

“Immediately the DPO Sanyo got wind of the incident, he contacted Fire service while he also went to the scene for on the spot assessment.

“The fire was eventually put out.

“Investigation has commenced into the incident while the Police is on the trail of the hoodlums.”

Mr. Igboho, an Oyo indigene, has been a prominent figure in the recent tensions between herders and the local community in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

He had issued a quit notice to the herders over allegations of kidnappings, killings, rape, and other violent activities.

The ultimatum expired last week and Igboho held a massive rally in the community after which some houses and properties in the herder’s settlements were torched, according to the police.

“Following the fear of threats to public peace, occasioned by the inciting pronouncement of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, A.K.A Sunday Igboho, the Oyo State Police Command jointly with the Operation Burst had embarked on visibility/confidence building patrol of the areas concerned,” the police said in a statement on Saturday.

“Sadly, the relative peace and calmness, being enjoyed, due to the visibility patrols of the Security Agencies were truncated by the visit of Sunday Igboho to Igangan, at about 16:30hrs [4:30 pm] on 22nd January 2021.

“The visit had culminated in a mob action by some youths in the town, who, armed with different types of weapons, embarked on arson and a breach of peace. In the process, grievous hurt was committed against one of the police officers, while discharging his statutory duties.”

On Monday, South-West leaders met with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to “find lasting solutions to the incessant killings, kidnapping, and crises between herdsmen and farmers in the Southwest geo-political zone of the country.”

After the meeting, all parties agreed to ban night grazing and under-age herding.

The illegal occupation of State Forest Reserves was also condemned at the meeting.

Igboho Reacts

Speaking on Tuesday after the house went up in flames, Igboho said properties worth N50 million has been lost to the inferno.

He said the arsonists broke the gate to the building to gain entrance before setting the house on fire.

He added that the two people living in the house fled for their lives in the chaos.

“Around 03:30 am this morning, my siblings living in my old house came to alert me that some hoodlums were at the house, shooting sporadically, and that they had forced the gate open and set the house ablaze,” he said.

“My siblings escaped unhurt but my house was burnt. When we got there, the hoodlums had escaped so we called the fire service to put out the fire.

“I am surprised that some Yoruba people could be supporting killer herdsmen to destroy my house. This saddens me.

“My agitations are for all of us to come together against killer herdsmen who have been terrorizing the Yorubas by kidnapping, killing our brothers, and raping our women in Yoruba Land.

“To my amazement, some Yoruba people are aiding these killer herdsmen.
I expected them to come and attack my residence where I live now to show that they mean business.

“I assure you if they had, I would have been able to give you evidence of the hoodlums that did this.

“The property destroyed in that inferno would not be less than fifty million.”

‘Politicians Out To Discredit Me’

Igboho on Tuesday also responded to comments that he was a political thug for hire.

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojodu on Monday has published a piece describing how he, Ojodu, had intervened to convince Igboho from disrupting an Ekiti governorship election in 2009.

But Igboho said he does not know Ojodu.

“I have noticed that the agitations that I am championing over the killer Fulani herdsmen is being politicised to malign and weaken me,” he said.

“Those politicians are lying. All the claims of that man called Babafemi Ojudu are all lies. I have nothing to do with him. I do not know him.

“Until those killer herdsmen leave our father’s land, I will not rest. There is no politician funding me for these agitations.

“Since the killer herdsmen have been killing and kidnapping our people in Ibarapa, no one or government visited the place until I went to expose the havoc being wreaked on our people. No one or group came to their rescue in Ibarapa until I went there.

“I have to go because they are my family, I have the same tribal marks with Mr Aborode who was killed by these killer herdsmen.

“I challenge any politician who claims to fund me to come out openly and say so.

“What I want is for peace to reign in Yoruba land.”

Oyo Tension: Houses, Vehicles Burnt, Policeman Injured In Igangan

Two houses at the Fulani settlement have been burnt along with three vehicles following the tension that rocked the Igangan area of Oyo State on Friday.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state, Gbenga Fadeyi, confirmed this to Channels Television on Saturday evening, adding that one policeman was injured in the incident.

Fadeyi, however, noted that there was no fatality.

He said investigations have since commenced into the matter while efforts are on to return normalcy to the area.

Trouble began on Friday after a youth leader from the Oke Ogun axis, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Igboho went with his supporters to warn the Fulani community that banditry, kidnapping and killing of people in the area would no longer be tolerated.

A quit notice had been given to the Fulani community days before and elapsed Friday.

Violence reportedly erupted between the youths in the area and the Fulani community after the delegation had departed Igangan.

Meanwhile, the police spokesman said he does not have any comment yet on the directive to arrest Mr Adeyemo.

On Friday, Governor Seyi Makinde said his government will not allow anyone to cause ethnic tension or harass anyone carrying out legitimate businesses in the state.

He made the comments while receiving the new police boss in Oyo state, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko who paid a courtesy visit to him in his office.

LAUTECH Ownership: Oyo To Pay ₦8bn To Osun Over Three Years

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is a tertiary institution located in Ogbomoso, Oyo State

Following the agreement reached by Oyo and Osun states on the ownership status of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), the Oyo state government, says a sum of ₦8 billion would be paid as an asset sharing agreement to Osun State over a period of three years.

The approval, which was conveyed by the Commissioner for Education, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, would be paid in three installments spread over a period of three years.

A statement by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, indicated that Olaleye stated this while briefing newsmen shortly after the Executive Council meeting held at the Governor’s Office.

“As a follow-up to the agreement reached with the Osun State government on the issue of sole ownership of LAUTECH, the Executive Council of Oyo State approved today the payment of the sum of ₦8 billion to Osun State government. It will be paid over a period of three years,” the statement read in part.

“The breakdown of the payment goes as follows: one (1) billion Naira will be paid in January 2021 and another one (1) billion Naira will be paid in December 2021. Three (3) billion Naira will be paid in 2022 and the last three (3) will be paid in 2023. This was the decision of the council today.”

Similarly, the Executive Council also approved provision of a tribrid system of power supply consisting of solar, diesel generating set and battery storage for Rural Community Development Centre (RCDC), Awe as an urgent intervention at the sum of N92 million only.

According to the state’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Barr. Temilolu ‘Seun Ashamu, the council resolved to make the intervention on the Rural Community Development Centre, Awe, which is one of the hubs of the state’s Agribusiness development programme.

He said: “At the Exco meeting today, the Council resolved that the Ministry of Energy and Resources will provide an urgent intervention at the Rural Community Development Centre RCDC Awe, which is actually one of the hubs for the agribusiness development of this administration.

“It resolved that the ministry will provide a tribrid system comprising solar, diesel generating set and battery storage for RCDC.”

He also said that the council approved the launch of a bike-sharing scheme codenamed Keke Seyi to facilitate easy transportation within the state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The scheme, which is to involve the use of 60 bicycles is being piloted by an indigenous company which will be paid the sum of N750,000 for its services.

He said that the bike-sharing scheme within the Secretariat will be available for use by members of the public and staff of the state.

Ashamu said: “Secondly, the Council approved the implementation of bicycle drive codenamed ‘keke Seyi.’ The bicycles will be piloted in collaboration with OurBikes Nigeria, an indigenous company, which has offered the state its services to come and pilot a bike-sharing scheme within the Secretariat so that the bicycles will be available for use by members of the public and staff of the state.

“About N92 million was approved for the RCDC and that of Keke Seyi is a token amount of N750,000. They (Ourbike Nigeria) will be providing us with 60 bicycles for the pilot, which is to last for three months initially.

“We have members of the public that come into the Secretariat and they walk around. So, the bicycles are there to promote a number of things; ease of traffic within the secretariat and to promote healthy living.

“It is a bike-sharing scheme and what that means is that you can actually enter the Secretariat from any of the entrances, pick any of the bicycles and ride it to wherever you are going. The bicycles will also be made available to Ministries, Department and Agencies so that members of staff can also use the bicycles.

“It is necessary to state that there are protocols and procedures that guide the use of bicycles. It has been in Europe and North America long before it was brought to Africa. We will ensure that all health and safety measures are put in place such that we would not accelerate the spread of coronavirus.”

Armed Men Abduct Farm Owner In Ibadan

Armed men numbering about six have abducted one Oluwole Agboola, the owner of a farm in Nagbede village in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, SP Fadeyi Olugbenga, the men who were dressed in military camouflage, were said to have snuck into the piggery/fish farm.

“Immediately the report of the incident got to the notice of DPO Moniya, search party comprising of plainclothes/Tactical police teams, vigilantes, hunters, and Amotekun corps swung into action and were deployed to far and near bushes to comb the areas for possible arrest of the hoodlums and also getting the abductor released,” Olugbenga said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

He further stated that concerted communal efforts have been intensified to complement the existing deployment already in place.

The Commissioner of Police, therefore, implored good-spirited members of the public with useful information to contact the police to assist in the arrest of the criminal elements.

Former House Of Reps Candidate Murdered In Oyo

A map of Oyo, a state in south-west Nigeria.

A former candidate of the House of Representatives, Fatai Aborode, has been shot dead in Oyo State.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olugbenga Fadeyi, disclosed this in a statement signed on Saturday.

According to the statement, the incident happened at about 17:50om on Friday.

Fadeyi said Aborode was robbed and shot by four gunmen along Apodun road, Igangan.

The victim was, thereafter, rushed to Olugbon Hospital Igboora where he was later confirmed dead.

The police say efforts are on to arrest the fleeing assailants.

Aborode was the House of Reps candidate under the platform of Accord Party in 2015.

He, however, defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently.

One Shot, Police Station Burnt In Face-Off Between Prison Officials And Motorcycle Riders In Ibadan

Violence erupted at the Agodi Gate area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday when prison officials allegedly shot a motorcyclist.

According to eyewitness reports, the okada rider had an argument with prison officials who wanted the access route to the prison cleared but the situation degenerated into violence leading to a crisis in the area.

Thereafter, the police station at Gate was burnt allegedly by some angry motorcyclists.

The okada rider who sustained a gunshot wound is, however, alive and receiving treatment, while security operatives led by the Joint security task force Operation Burst have taken over to restore normalcy in the area.

Meanwhile, contrary to some reports that the face-off was between the police and motorcycle riders, the police spokesman Gbenga Fadeyi said no policeman fired any shot at the scene.

11 Persons Hospitalised In Oyo State Over Outbreak Of Strange Illness

Eleven victims have been hospitalised following the outbreak of a strange illness in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The Commissioner for Health in the state, Bashiru Bello, confirmed this to Channels Television and debunked reports of death from the ailment.

Although the cause of the sickness is reported to be cholera in the face of the symptoms shown by those affected, Bello explained that samples have been taken from those in hospital and the results are being expected.

He added that pending the outcome of the tests, he could not attribute it to cholera, although he confirmed that health officials sent to the area had reported poor hygienic conditions and lack of access to clean and potable water in the communities.

#EndSARS: We Will Compensate Families Of Slain Policemen – Makinde

The Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has pledged that the state will compensate families of Policemen who lost their lives during the #EndSARS protests, which were hijacked by hoodlums.

The governor, who stated this while speaking at the Oyo State Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Eleyele, Ibadan, said that the families will be compensated from the N500 million fund already set aside to compensate victims of police brutality and injustice.

The governor equally commiserated with officers and men of the Police Command over the loss of their officers as well as the destruction of a number of structures and equipment.

He stated that the state government will not leave the Police to walk alone, adding that the government will continue to work together with the force to make Oyo State safe and secure for residents.

He equally urged the Police to put the experience of the last few weeks behind them and join hands with the government to rebuild the nation and create a better society.

He maintained that the cooperation of the Police is needed to bring to book arsonists, anarchists, and killers, stating that the government and the people of Oyo State are solidly behind the Police and that they would work together to make the state better.

The meeting had in attendance the Garrison Commander of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Adesoji Ogunsugba and the DIG Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Leye Oyebade and other top police officers of the Command.

The governor said: “I announced that the government has set up an initial N500m Victim Compensation Fund. I made the announcement last week and I want to say that the families of the policemen in Oyo State who were extrajudicially killed will be part of those to be compensated in the fund. And I also want to say that may the souls of the departed colleagues rest in peace.

“The Police are a very important part of our community. My prayer is that things will get better with our country, state, and Nigerian Police Force.

“Things will get better with Oyo State Police Command and it will get better with us as individuals. I can stand before you to say that not every member of the Police is bad. So, the government and the people of Oyo State are with you.

“If we work together to create a better society, you also are coming to enjoy that better society. We must all join hands to make our society better.

“It is time to put everything that has happened behind us and work towards nation-building. That I said I support the protest does not mean I am against you. I am for the protection of everyone’s rights including the right of the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force.

“So, we need your cooperation to ensure that arsonists, anarchists are brought to book. And I am here to work with you to make the burden you are carrying very light.”

The governor added that the state government would undertake the rebuilding of all burnt down and destroyed stations as well as take care of all logistics as contained in a document presented to him by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joe Enwowu, stating that all requests by the Police to make them comfortable in their places of work would be granted by the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police said: “As a matter of fact, October has come and gone. It was a bad month. It was a black month. It was a very sorrowful month, not just for Oyo State but for the entire federation. Granted that we have suffered a lot of losses in terms of buildings, burning of police stations, loss of men, vehicles, and personal belongings, that is a price one has to pay by way of what we call professional hazards.

“But that does not mean life will not continue. We have to put all that behind us and forge ahead and be sure that today, being the first working day in the month of November, that we will do our best to be sure that Oyo State will continue to be a state with one of the lowest records of crime.”

He urged Police officers to go back to their duty posts and give their best to the communities, saying: “I further want to urge each and every one of our officers here that when you leave here, you should go back in full confidence that you will give your best to the communities and your areas of responsibility.

“You should not be intimidated and you cannot abdicate your responsibility, which is that Police, as a lead security agency, cannot abandon your duty post and expect those who are not trained to do that job to come and do it for you.”

He stated that while other security services were there to support the Police as stated by the General Officer Commanding 2nd mechanized Division last week, Policemen cannot afford to shy away from their responsibilities.

The Commissioner of Police added that intimidation or harassment of the members of the public should be a thing of the past, noting that the Police would not want to hear that the fundamental human rights of the public are violated in any way whatsoever.

He added that the Police should key into one of the four pillars of the administration of Governor Makinde, which borders on security as according to him, the governor has supported the Command immensely.

He said: “He (Governor Makinde) has provided us with vehicles, telecommunications, a lot of logistics including welfare allowances to boost the morale of the officers,” Enwowu said.

Also speaking, the Garrision Commander 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ogunsugba said: “You have received enough tonic to come out of your shell and do the job together. The job belongs to us and we have nobody to call apart from us. We will not sell this country or allow this country to be taken over by miscreants.

“So, please I don’t want us to start quoting one law that is outdated. The current law now is the IGP’s pronouncement, which everybody can hear clear and loud. You have been empowered to do your work.

“The other aspect is my General Officer Commander’s comment when he came here. He said you are not alone. We are with you day and night. And for those of you who are in the town, you would have been seeing us in some of your deployments. We have been patrolling together. And we have been saying that an injury to a policeman is an injury to a military man. That shows you are not alone. So, what I will tell you is to come out. It is time. Nigeria belongs to us. Oyo State belongs to all of us. We must come out to do the job.”

Similarly, Oyebade appreciated the governor for everything he has been doing.
He assured that there will be a new beginning with the Police, stating that having spoken with the rank and file of the force, there will be a new era and a new beginning in the area of policing in the state.

“I have already gotten feedback from the commissioner of police to the least constable here, and I know that it is going to be a new beginning, a new era, and a new dawn in the area of policing in this state. Yes, we have challenges, there is no system that does not have a challenge but we are going to surmount those challenges. Looking at the way the government is going to encourage and has been encouraging us with our facilities, I know when I left Oyo State and I know what has been put in place after I left.”

Makinde Visits Scenes Of Violence, Vows To Compensate Victims Of Attack

A file photo of Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday visited scenes of violence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, assuring to compensate victims of the attack.

Accompanied by security aides, the governor visited different spots in which violence has erupted in the state. Makinde visited Idi Ape/Iwo Road axis, where he spoke to the protesters in English and Yoruba languages.

He said his administration is committed to securing the lives and properties of the residents of the state but warned youths to stop fomenting trouble or destroying properties.

At Testing Ground in Iwo Road area, Makinde engaged with youths and residents in the area. He promised that those arrested would be released and those who lost their properties will be compensated.

Makinde said further that, “Whatever affects the eyes equally affects the nose. Whatever affects you also affects me. So, I urge you to be peaceful, because I don’t want this to escalate beyond this point.

“He also promised to meet with the Commissioner of Police in the state.

“I am going to meet with the Commissioner of Police now, but, in the meantime, my people will wait here in this school to collect the list of those who were affected; those whose houses were burnt, those whose property was destroyed.

Even if you are part of those whose cars were set ablaze, write down your name too . “Let me also assure you that those who have been arrested will be released before the end of the day,” he said.

Oyo Reviews Curfew, Orders Worship Places To Operate At 25 Per Cent Capacity

The Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force announced on Monday that it has relaxed the curfew imposed on the state following the advent of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

The Task Force, which made the decision public after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting presided by its chairman, Governor Seyi Makinde, added that the curfew would now run from 10pm to 4am.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, confirmed that other decisions reached include the resumption of classes for Primary Six, JSS3 and SS3 students from Monday, June 29; resumption of work by all category of workers at the state secretariat from June 22; opening up of mosques and churches, which are to operate at 25 per cent capacity; and the decision to limit public gathering to not more than 25 persons.

The statement indicated that the state secretariat, which was earlier shut on March 27 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and later reopened to staff on grade level 13 and above from Monday April 27, would now be open to all other staffers from Monday, June 22.

According to the statement, students in critical classes are to resume at the end of June to ensure they are well-prepared for the public examinations ahead of them.

The statement read: “The schools are to observe the COVID-19 protocols as released by the Task Force, ensure that stations for washing of hands are provided in all schools, while all students are to compulsorily wear face masks.
“Schools are to provide hand wash points with the support of their Parents/Teachers Associations (PTA).

“The resumption of critical classes at the end of June 2020, would be two clear weeks ahead of the state’s drop-dead date of July 15. By that date, it would be decided whether other categories of students will return to the classes.”

The statement further read: “Mosques and Churches are to reopen and operate at not more than 25 per cent capacity. The situation will be reviewed within the first two weeks. All worshippers are to compulsorily wear face masks.

“Night clubs are to remain shut even though the existing curfew, which used to run from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. is being aligned with that of the Federal Government, which runs from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

“The Task Force will not mind shutting down everywhere if evidence emerges that the COVID-19 safety protocols are being violated, or should there be an explosion in the number of cases; however, the state government will intensify enlightenment campaigns to ensure the safety of our people.”

The statement also added that the resumption order will not affect the tertiary institutions for now, as the Task Force would review their situation and determine their state of readiness.

Oyo Records Two More COVID-19 Deaths

Oyo State Government has announced the death of two more persons in connection to Coronavirus in the state.

Governor Seyi Makinde announced this on Wednesday via his official Twitter handle.

The governor said the patients died last night and this brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the state to six.

He also revealed that 17 persons have recovered from the virus and have since been discharged.

“Sadly, the two of the six positive cases confirmed today had already passed away and the total number of deaths is now six.

” 17 confirmed COVID-19 patients had received their second negative test results and have been discharged.

“This brings the number of discharged cases in Oyo State to seventy-five,” the governor said.

Six more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.

“One case is from iSON Xperiences and one each from Ibadan South West, Ibadan South East, Surulere, Ido and Egbeda Local Government Areas,” the governor said.

The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in Oyo State as at Wednesday, May 27 therefore stands at 250.

Makinde Reviews Curfew As Oyo Coronavirus Cases Hits 233

Governor Seyi Makinde has reviewed the curfew in Oyo State, despite some spikes in the number of Coronavirus cases within the state.

The governor had earlier put in place a 7:00 p.m. till 5:00 a.m curfew in the state but this has now been reviewed to 8:00 p.m till 5:00am.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa said that the decision was reached at the COVID-19 Task Force meeting presided over by the governor on Sunday.

He also added that the state has so far recorded 233 COVID-19 positive cases, while 171 of them are active cases.

Adisa assured that a number of creative measures have been approved for implementation by the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to contain the spread of the virus in the state.

“The Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force headed by His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde has approved that the curfew currently in force in the state runs from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The new directive replaces the initial order which pegs the curfew at between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.

“Agreement has been struck with the management of a facility in Ibadan to provide bed spaces for a number of positive cases, whose status have been well considered by the experts,” his statement read.

He further stated that the government is wrapping up renovations of Isolation centres located at Agbami, Jericho, Ibadan, Igbo-Ora, Ogbomoso, Saki and Aawe, near Oyo town.

He added that the planned community testing, which could not be kickstarted at the weekend owing to the festivities and public holidays, would commence by the end of the week.

Tag: Oyo state