The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, has referred to as on the residents of the Owo group, the place cult clashes occurred just lately, to present priceless info to the safety companies to allow them to arrest the culprits.
No fewer than 4 individuals had been killed throughout a battle between two rival cult teams penultimate Monday, whereas one other man recognized as Nasiru Isiaka was killed a number of days later within the Owo group, the headquarters of the Owo Native Authorities Space of the state prior to now few days.
To this finish, the state police command stated it had arrested 19 individuals in reference to the incident whereas the federal government had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the neighborhood to forestall additional breakdown of legislation and order within the historical city.
Adelami, who spoke on the safety summit organised by a gaggle often called the Owo Youths Discussion board, held in the neighborhood on Sunday, decried the current killings in the neighborhood, saying the event may deliver the group into disrepute if drastic measures weren’t taken to checkmate it.
Represented by his chief of workers, Dr Kola Falohun, the deputy governor urged members of the general public to supply viable info to the safety companies in addressing the scenario and restoring peace to the group.
He stated, “Police and different safety companies should not spirits; it is advisable to inform them. If we should transfer ahead, all palms should be on deck. Youths ought to retrain themselves; we must always not pull ourselves down.
“We now know the place we’re going. Options have been urged. We imagine that by the point we do the principle stakeholders’ assembly that shall be organised by the workplace of the deputy governor quickly, we’ll make headway.
“These boys are literally not dangerous; solely we aren’t partaking them. They’re our brothers and sisters. We are going to interact them and know if there are grievances and empower them as a result of lack of a job is a serious flashpoint.”
Talking, a member of the discussion board, Odunayo Folahanmi, alleged that politicians brought on a disaster within the city, saying they empowered the youths with harmful weapons to work for them as political thugs.
“It’s evident that politicians are those partaking the cultists. We invited them in addition to others, however you possibly can even see for yourselves that the political leaders should not right here besides the deputy governor, who’s represented by the chief of workers.
“We’ve got to begin getting it proper from our political class, and we’ve got to begin ensuring that issues are proper. We even have privy info from the police that each time these persons are arrested, political leaders will come and rescue them,” he stated.
Equally, in his remarks, the police space commander in Owo, Mr. Adenike Peter, requested politicians and influential individuals to cease interfering in police procedures when suspects had been being arrested, saying this was why the cultists had been thriving in the neighborhood.
“Many a time, after we arrest these miscreants, politicians will begin calling, saying he’s my brother; we must always launch them. So, this is likely one of the main issues we’ve got. Additionally, mother and father ought to checkmate their kids and even report them to the police for motion if discovered culpable of prison tendencies.
“Members of the general public must also give us helpful info as a result of we aren’t ghosts. We are going to work on the knowledge given to us. These individuals stay in our midst,” the police boss said.
Additionally talking on the discussion board, one of many organisers, Damilare Aina, defined that the discussion board was organised to deliver up concepts that will handle the challenges in order that peace can be restored to the traditional city.
In accordance with him, it was a recognized incontrovertible fact that politicians would indulge youths, particularly the idle ones, for his or her political positive factors and abandon them.
Aina urged {that a} steady engagement of all stakeholders would go a great distance in educating the youths and guaranteeing sustained peace within the space.