Oyo state Police Commissioner, CP Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu on Sunday vowed that the state Police command will no longer fold its arms and allow criminal elements/social miscreants to continue to shed innocent blood in the name of protest and carry out their evil intentions”,
CP Enwonwu handed down the warning in a statement signed on his behalf by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Lawrence Fadeyi made available to journalists in Ibadan.
The Commissioner of Police disclosed that the command is now battle ready to deal decisively with whatever person or group bent on disturbing the relative peace in the state.
“Maximum securities to lives and property of Oyo State citizens are guaranteed as adequate security measure have been emplaced during this yuletide period and beyond. There is synergy and collaboration among the sisters security agencies in the State and therefore criminal elements should not attempt to test the collective will as any individual or groups who does so shall have his/herself to blame”, he said
Condemning the recent attacks on “Police personnel while on their lawful duties, mass destructions/looting of Police facilities, act of carnage meted to Police personnel by suspected hoodlums/criminal elements who carted away properties worth millions of naira during the “EndSARS Protests” CP Enwonwu pointed out that the command has resolved to give criminal elements a good fight in and across the state.
Observing with dismay and utmost dissatisfaction the level of attacks on Police personnel, carting away of arms and ammunition, looting/destructions to government properties by these unscrupulous criminal elements of progress, CP Enwonwu stressed that the attack was “an act premeditated by the hoodlums who deliberately set the Police Stations ablaze and thereafter stripped them naked by returning to the rumbles to cart away all valuables.
According to the Police Commissioner, the valuables carted away from the razed Police stations included “computers(Laptops), flat screen TV, burglary proofs, office equipment, over head water tanks, cell gates, ceiling tiles, remnants of Police patrol vehicles body parts and engines, iron gates, balcony railings etc and pulling down of perimeter fencing and that of the entire Police Station buildings”.
CP Enwonwu however, tasked the people of Oyo state “with credible information on the lootings or have seen such properties in the custody of the suspected hoodlums/criminals element to report same immediately to the nearest Police Station or arrest and hand over to any security agencies close by for necessary action”.
“The CP enjoins all critical stakeholders including traditional rulers, Community/religious leaders, leaders of thought, parents/guardians etc to continue to have dialogue and also appeal to the youths and their children/wards to desist from act(s) that can lead to breakdown of law and order in the State”.
