Oyetola gives looters 72 hours to return looted properties
(Nigeria) Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, has given the looters of government and
private properties 72 hours to return the looted properties or face the wrath
of the law.
He ordered the suspected hoodlums to surrender all they have
stolen to the security agencies, traditional rulers, local government chairmen
and community leaders of their respective domains.
Oyetola said the looters who observed the 72-hour amnesty
would be forgiven.
He said those who refused to honour the amnesty would be
tracked and brought to justice.
This was even as the Governor sympathised with the victims
of the Saturday's looted properties in the State and promised them government
support.
Oyetola also decried the way and manner the suspected armed
robbers, hoodlums and miscreants burgled, vandalised and looted both the
government and private properties under the guise of protest.
He specifically commiserated with Chairman, Tuns Farm,
Asiwaju Tunde Badmus over the death of his staff during the raid.
Governor Oyetola spoke on Sunday while addressing
journalists during his on-the-spot assessment and evaluation of the level of
damage done by the marauders.
Speaking at Tuns Farm, the Governor said "I will say
that what I witnessed here today is not actually a question of hoodlums, but
armed robbers. They have actually removed all the machines that are here.
"It is very unfortunate. What I have seen here is
massive looting, armed robbery and stealing of the highest order.
" I can say categorically that EndSARS Protest is not
what we are seeing here today. This is pure looting and it is all over. That is
why we are talking to the people that this protest had been hijacked by
miscreants.
"You can see the level of damage; you can see the level
of destruction; you can see the level of consequential loss.
"I decided to go round to look at the level of damage.
It is irreparable because of the loss of life.
"We have a lot of lesson to learn. Yes we can protest,
we can register our grievances but we should not allow it to be hijacked by
miscreants and hoodlums because we cannot predict their activities.
"What we are experiencing now is pre-planned attack.
The hoodlums were just waiting for an opportunity to carry out their heinous
acts, " the Governor added.
At Omoluabi Garment, he further said "It is unfortunate
that this is happening at a time we are encouraging firms to invest in our
State. This place alone (Omoluabi Garment Factory) has contributed
significantly to the economy of the State. It
has provided jobs opportunity for the citizens, particularly our youths
and added values to our economy.
"Let me say this clearly that those who participated in
this looting made serious mistakes because the machines looted have serial
number. I will only advise them to return the machines.
"We are going to give the looters 72 hours to encourage
those that have participated in the looting to return what they have stolen to
the palaces of the traditional rulers or offices of chairmen of their various
councils. Should they fail to do so, we will get them.
"So, it is an opportunity for them to take advantage of
the 72hours to return the looted items and we shall give them the amnesty. But
should they fail to do so, I can assure you we have all it takes to track
them".
The Governor who described the incident as unfortunate, sad
and premeditated motive to distabilise peace in the state, sympathised with the
owners of the looted properties and belongings.
He promised the administration's readiness to support the
victims to enable them to come back to life.
Oyetola stated further, "This is not the kind of
Omoluabi that we preach. The participants of this looting are not ordinarily
citizens but robbers. There is a clear difference between looting and protest.
What they did was to take advantage of the peaceful protest by the genuine
youths to loot.
" I am appealing to our youths that they have every
right to register their grievances but they should not allow such good
intentions to be hijacked by miscreants as we have recently witnessed.
"As a government, we will sit down to look at the
possible way to bring the victims back to life through our efforts and
intervention from the Federal Government".
Speaking earlier,
Asiwaju Tunde Badmus said they have written formally to the Police to
report the murder and armed robbery that took place at the company. He put the
loss so far at over N100 million.
The Governor who was accompanied by his Deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi; Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Charles Akinola, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo, visited Tuns Farm Nigeria PLC; Osun Central Senatorial Campaign Office of Sen Bashir Ajibola; Osogbo Federal Constitupency APC Campaign Office; Osun Mall; APC State Secretariat; Ileri-Oluwa Campaign office; and Omoluabi Garment Factory, among others.
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