Ogun State governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun on Tuesday, read riot acts against the perpetrators of Sunday and Monday violent clashes at Ijebu Igbo, in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state, that left five persons including a police officer dead.
Ogun State governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun on Tuesday, read riot acts against the perpetrators of Sunday and Monday violent clashes at Ijebu Igbo, in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state, that left five persons including a police officer dead.
Amosun also declared that directive had been given to the state police command to arrest anybody involved in the violent clash, which shattered the relative peace of the town.
He warned that his administration would not allow the state to be returned to what he described as "gory past" under whatever guise.
The governor's disclosure came, even as the police confirmed the arrest of 29 suspects in connection to the clash, which broke out between the members of the Oodu'a Peoples Congress (OPC) and the Aye cult group, after a political rally at Oke Sopenu area.
The governor who was responding to newsmen questions on the forthcoming 3rd African Drum Festival at the MITROS Suites and Residences hall, Abeokuta said, he was shocked by the clash, "which included the killing of a policeman.”
"This is unacceptable. We cannot be taken back to the gory past. You have been in the state and you know how it was. But, we thanked God that that is no more. So, when I heard the incident yesterday, I was not happy at that for whatever reason, violent clash cannot be allowed under whatever name, be it politics or whatever."
"I have directed the Police to go after whoever is part of this. And they must arraign them by tomorrow (today). Anyone that is a student among them should be rusticated from school. This is not acceptable by this government," Amosun declared.
Also, in a release by the police command spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, 29 suspects were arrested and a pump action gun and one locally made pistol were recovered after the police broke into the enclaves of the groups.
According to him, "the combing of the various hide-outs of the hoodlums is in progress and as of this morning, five more suspects have been arrested with pump action gun, two locally made pistols, ten live cartridges, and assorted charms."
"The command hereby assures members of the public of their security and advice them to go about their lawful business without fear of harassment or intimidation from any quarter," Oyeyemi stated.
