Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, embarked on a tour of hot spots of #EndSARS protests in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he declared that his government will continue to do what is necessary to secure the lives and properties of the residents of the state.
This is as hoodlums reportedly burnt to ashes two police officers at the Iwo-road area of Ibadan and a motorcyclist was allegedly killed by the police at the Abayomi area of Iwo Road, Ibadan, the state capital.
Likewise, a police vehicle attached to the Gbagi police station and vans set ablaze while Customs base in Iseyin, as well as Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) office in the town, also invaded.
Makinde, who was accompanied by a number of aides, stopped at different spots on the Idi-Ape/Iwo Road axis, where he spoke to protesters in English and Yoruba languages.
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He warned youths to stop fomenting trouble or destroying properties in the name of the #EndSARS protests, adding that he does not want any further loss of life in the state.
The governor also promised to engage with the Commissioner for Police in the state, to work on how the police can take a back seat pending the time the situation in the country will be arrested.
Governor Makinde first made a stop-over at Testing Ground, Iwo Road, where policemen had been firing warning shots to ward off massing protesters from early Thursday.
He engaged with the protesting youths and residents, some of whom claimed to have lost properties to the violence that erupted in the area earlier in the day.
He promised that those arrested would be released before the end of the day, adding that the government would address the concerns of everyone who might have lost properties to the crisis.
The governor started by asking the massive crowd some questions and then assured them of redress.
He said: “Let me ask you some questions; are you the ones that installed this government? Are you assured that this government will always do what is right for you? Since you installed this government, I want to assure you that we will do what is necessary for you. I want you to trust me on this.
“Whatever affects the eyes equally affects the nose. In other words, whatever affects you also affects me. So, I urge you to be peaceful, because I don’t want this to escalate beyond this point.
“Please, don’t allow some other elements to hijack this protest from you. Don’t destroy anybody’s property. Don’t destroy anything,” the governor said.
He added: “I want to urge you, once again, my life is not worth more than your life. I don’t want anybody’s life to be wasted. I have heard what you all said. 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.
“I don’t want to lose anybody and I pray we will not lose anyone. When I leave here now, I will go and engage with the Commissioner of Police to take police off the street. The personnel of ‘Operation Burst’ that you see around is to protect you.”
Governor Makinde, who decried the violent dimension being introduced to the current situation, warned everyone to be calm, saying: “Please, there must not be violence. We are all Nigerians. So, let us go back and be calm.
“Among you, there are governors. There are presidents. So, let us go back home.
Meanwhile, there was pandemonium on Thursday as two police officers were reportedly burnt to ashes
The crisis started when three police officers in a police vehicle were stopped and accused of brutalizing an Okada rider at Gbagi on their way to Iwo Road roundabout.
The police officers hit a motorcyclist who eventually died.
The hoodlums had to pursue the police officers who were in the police vehicle and when caught up with them and were allegedly burnt.
Hoodlums also attacked the station of the Nigeria Police Force and the base of the Nigeria Customs Office in Iseyin.
The miscreants carted away fridge and other valuable items.
This attack is connected to the unrest and looting that have taken over the country in the last few days after the hijack of EndSARS protests by hoodlums, some allegedly sponsored by government officials.
The attack on the police station and customs base in Iseyin which occurred on Thursday morning was a continuation of the vandalization of properties in the town which began on Wednesday
According to a resident, the Aseyin of Iseyin on Wednesday evening attempted to persuade the hoodlums but they still went ahead with their attacks.
