Ondo: Police Denies  Terrorists’ Attack, Douses Tension

By Ayodele Oni

Panic, fear and tension enveloped the entire community in Ondo state on Thursday as a group of terrorists allegedly wrote and informed the people of a planned attack.

The people of the community, Ilara Mokin, in Ifedore local government, were said to have received the message via a private radio station in the town.

It was gathered that different age groups in the town hurriedly organized meetings among themselves while some ran to the traditional ruler to seek a way out of the threat letter.

The state police command was immediately contacted for possible deployment of armed personnel to secure the conmunity.

However in a message via Twitter, the police command dismissed the message as a mere rumour meant to create fear in the community.

The command in the Twitter message reacted “Good morning all, kindly disregard the rumour that terrorists wrote to Ilara mokin via Adaba 88.9 fm on their intention to attack the community.

“The information is false and misleading with intent to create unnecessary panic in Ilara mokin and its environs.

“This false information has been debunked by the management of Adaba fm and the pedlers of this negative story are warned to desist.

“The commissioner of police, Oyeyemi Adesoye Oyediran has assured the people of adequate protection within Ondo state.”

This is coming as the people of the state are getting over the incident of gunmen attack of a Catholic Church in Owo, during a Sunday worship early in June.

Not less than 40 persons that were confirmed dead, have been given mass burial, with several others sustaining various degrees of wounds were treated and discharged from hospital.

The state police command had earlier warned against false information meant to create unnecessary tension in the state.

In a statement, the police command spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami warned that “The attention of Ondo State Police Command has been drawn to a negative trend which is fast becoming a habit within the State.

“The issue of raising false alarm in the State calls for caution as the Command will not allow any alarmist put unnecessary fear in the heart of the people of the State.

“The Command is miffed at the rate at which people sit in their comfort zone and cause the Police and the public undue stress.”