Oyo state government on Sunday revealed that no fewer than 51 suspected criminals linked to kidnapping and other crimes committed in Oke – Ogun and Ibarapa areas of the state are already in Police net.
The government disclosed further that some are already charged to court, while others would soon have their days in court.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni (rtd), who led the government’s delegation, alongside the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko to the trouble spots of Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun areas where they conducted on-the-spot assessment of the tenson-soaked communities, also assured that the government would ensure justice prevails in the cases involving the arrested lot, adding, however, that the people must remain vigilant.
Communities visited include, Igangan, Tede and Ago-Are.
Owoseni, who debunked insinuations that the Seyi Makinde -led administration has abandoned the people to their fate, disclosed that government has been working closely with the Police to fish out criminal elements in the state.
He urged the people to be vigilant and ensure they identify the criminal elements among them for prosecution by the Police, declaring that no one should take laws into their hands.
“If you see something, say something,” Owoseni advised residents of the visited communities.
The delegation also visited the razed home of the Seriki Fulani in Igangan, where it assessed the extent of damage and promised thorough investigation.
“Let us put sentiment and politics aside, from what we heard, it is not as if the Ibarapa community is against one ethnic group. What they are claiming and the allegation they have made is that a particular person, who they are now seeing to symbolise an entire ethnic group, has been misbehaving. It is just like what the governor has been saying; that there is trust-deficit between the people and the government, mistrust between the people and law enforcement agencies.
“If you look at the catalogue of what has been said, they feel they have not been given justice and they feel that someone has been stalling justice.
“They feel that someone has been dropping names in order to oppress the community. I believe that with the steps that have been taken to mend all these gaps and with the assurance that the Commissioner of Police has given that they will look at all the cases again, there will be a change”, he said.
Speaking specifically on investigations and arrests, the retired Police Commissioner said: “There are a lot of narratives that have not been given out.
“Everybody believes that kidnapping, assasination had taken place in Igangan and it seems the government was not doing anything.
“Truth is, 51 suspects have been in detention for various offences that bother on this kidnapping.
“Arrests were made. Some have been arraigned in court. Some are awaiting trial. For some, investigation are still ongoing, which we made them know.
“Everyone will learn lessons, especially the police officer that was accused of complicity in some of these cases.
“The CP has given that assurance that every victim will get justice and all the allegations they have made as to the Seriki colluding with criminals, will be looked into”, the former Commissioner of Police submitted.
Owoseni added that it was wrong for anyone to take laws into his hands, adding that the people must learn to trust security agencies to achieve peace in their areas.
He said of the communal clash between Tede and Ago Are: “This is an evidence of what the governor is doing on the security situation in the state. While the crisis in Igangan was brewing, that was when we heard that these two communities – Tede and Ago-Are – were also at war.
“The purpose of coming here today is to nip in the bud this communal fight. There is an immediate and remote cause but in order to quickly make it not to fester, we are here.”
