Following the increase in the cases of gang violence, looting of shops, killing and vandalisation of property and other criminal acts across Oyo state, the State’s House of Assembly has expressed worry.
The state’s lawmakers have therefore called on the Commissioner of Police in the state, Joe Enwonwu to direct his men to return to their duty posts to control the situation.
The lawmakers raised the concern while contributing to a Matter of Urgent Public Importance raised at Tuesday’s plenary by Chairman, House Committee on Security, Honourable Akeem Obadara (Ibadan North West constituency).
Hon. Obadara described the Monday night incident as a terrible one, reporting that hoodlums exchanged bullets, looted shops, took over the streets at Idikan, Iyana Ayeye and Agbede Adodo in Ibadan.
He particularly noted that the resurgence in unleashing of mayhem, exhibition of gang violence, criminality came in the wake of #EndSARS protests.
While pointing to efforts of officers of the state’s joint task force, known as Operation Burst, to combat crime, Obadara urged the state Commissioner of Police, Joe Enwonwu to, as a matter of urgency, to deploy police officers to arrest the trend of criminality in the affected areas.
He expressed regrets that the police seemed not to have fully returned to duties, after the #EndSARS protests, urging them to come back to their duty posts.
Hon. Obadara further urged the executive arm of government, through the State Emergency Management Authority (SEMA) to come to the aid of victims of robberies and gang violence in the mentioned areas.
Obadara’s presentation spurred other members of the Assembly to recount growing incidences of crimes and criminalities across the state, in recent times.
Presenting the situation in his constituency, Hon. Babajide Adebayo, representing Ibadan North 2, disclosed that robberies were recorded in the past two days in Agbowo area of Ibadan, with no fewer than three persons presently hospitalized.
He urged the police to return to their duty posts to reduce the rising rate of criminality in the state.
Contributing, Minority Leader, Honourable Asimiyu Alarape submitted that hoodlums were taking advantage of the lack of presence of the police to perpetrate crime.
He also called for more provision of vehicles for Operation Burst men and officers for the unit to efficiently cover the state.
Alarape equally bemoaned porous borders in the state warning that absence of Customs officers at borders had grave consequences for security in the state.
Honourable Dele Adeola representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency also noted that Iseyin was still grappling with aftermath of the #EndSARS protests saying that banks still remain closed in his constituency.
To secure banks, Adeola said ‘vigilante men’ have been hired with the police not curtailing incidences of looting of property on Iseyin.
Kazeem urged the state’s Assembly to write the police authorities to ask their men to return to ensure a safe environment.
Noting various security threats in Oke Ogun area of the state, member representing Irepo/Olorunsogo constituency, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju also asked that security urgently needed to be beefed up around old Oyo national park forest reserve along Igboho-Kisi-Igbeti road.
Noting the notoriety of his area, Hon. Yusuf Adebisi representing Ibadan South West 1 urged lawmakers to speak with their constituents to shun crime.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
