By Ayodele Oni
Osun State Government has allayed the fears of a possible resurgence of the Ife/Modakeke crisis, just as the State Commissioner of Police led a detachment of officers to the areas.
The State Government, in a statement, appealed to the people of the areas not to allow criminal elements to seize any situation to unleash mayhem on the people.
The statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mrs Funke Egbemode, informed that government has also ordered immediate deployment of armed policemen with support from the army in the troubled areas to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.
Mrs. Egbemode, spoke after a meeting of Government officials with heads of security agencies, where the situation in Ife and Modakeke areas was critically examined.
“Government, while sympathising with the families of those that died in the unfortunate incident, also called on security operatives to get to the root of the circumstances leading to the death of the deceased.
“It also counselled residents and citizens not to take the laws into their hands.
“Mr. Governor personally spoke to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Moses Oyediran Oladejo and they both assured him of their commitment to peace by ensuring that the people from both areas also continue to remain peaceful and law abiding.
“As Government, we are resolved to do everything possible to protect citizens from actual and potential threats.
“To this end, we have ordered immediate deployment of security operatives to restore law and order.
“We have also directed security operatives to arrest and prosecute any person found fomenting trouble and to fish out those responsible for the killing of the five farmers.
“Government enjoins all citizens to be peaceful and to be law abiding as all efforts shall be made to protect them and their property.”
Spokesman for the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Olawoyin, in a statement said that “The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command, CP Olawale Olokode, psc in his usual pragmatic approach to tackle crime and criminalities wishes to assures the residents of Alape via Modakeke area of adequate security coverage as he personally lead the Police Response Team and Tactical Unit of the Command to the scene of the incident where about five (5) people were fiercely murdered in the early hour of 20th August, 2021, in order to restore normalcy.
“The CP appeals to the residents of the area to remain calm as the Command is resolute to get to the root cause(s) of the dastardly act and the perpetrator(s) will be brought to book.
“The Commissioner of Police urges the residents of the area to avail the Command credible information that will fast track the arrest of the perpetrator(s) of the evil act.”
