Crime

3 Injured as Hoodlums Go on Rampage in Ilesa

By Web News 471

Three people were confirmed injured when some suspected hoodlums in some communities in Ilesa West local government area of Osun State stormed venues designated for collection of Permanent Voter Cards and disrupted the exercise on Thursday.

The development created panic in Igbogi, Isokun, Ibala, and all neighbourhoods within Ilesa metropolis, forcing people to stay indoors, as hoodlums wielding dangerous weapons roamed the streets.

A resident of Ibala, who pleaded anonymity, during a chat, told our correspondent that the hoodlums intended to scare people away from centres where PVC were being collected.

It was further learnt those people injured in the fracas, were believed to have sustained the injuries when rival groups of hoodlums involved in the disruption clashed.

Speaking on the incident, the Public Relations Officer of Civil Defence Corps, Osun state Command, Olabisi Atanda, said normalcy had been restored.

She said, “They (the hoodlums) ransacked (PVC collection centres) in Ilesa West and Ilesa West Central. They were in Ward 1, 3, 6 and 7.

“The hoodlums didn’t let people obtain Permanent Voters’ Cards, but the police and the Civil Defence Corps operatives are on top of the situation.When contacted for reaction, Osun INEC Public Relations, Seun Osimosu, said PVC collection was not suspended in the affected areas, but noted that the staff were withdrawn from the affected communities over safety concerns.

She added that the Commission would meet security agents in Ilesa West to address the situation.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

News

Osun Eases lockdown in 4 LGs, as Police Apprehends 2 for Flouting Order

By Web News 743

               

Osun state government has approved conditional ease of lockdown in
the four local government areas of Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa
East and Atakumosa West.

The Secretary to the state government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji stated
this in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo.

He said the decision was based on undertakings and assurance received
from traditional and religious leaders, as well as civil society
groups within the axis that compliance with safety guidelines would be
strictly adhered to.

Prince Oyebamiji, who appreciated the people of Ijesaland for the
level of compliance to the lockdown directive, however, lamented that
there were reports of breaches and violations.

He explained that physical meetings and mass gatherings in any form
remained banned in the axis and throughout the state till further
notice.

Prince Oyebamiji reiterated that any form of breakdown in adherence to
the safety protocols against Covid-19 in the four local government
areas would force the state government to re-impose the lockdown.        

Meanwhile, two persons, who allegedly flouted the lockdown order in Ilesa, Osun state, and assaulted two policemen, were brought before an Osogbo
Magistrates’ court.

The defendants, Babatunde Tosin and Saliu Rufiat, however, pleaded not
guilty to a five-count charge preferred against them.

The prosecutor, Inspector Moses Adebayo, who told the court that the
defendants committed the offences along International Breweries Road
Ilesa said they conspired with one other person still at large and
assaulted Sergent Akinrodayo and Olatiran Olaosebikan, while
performing their lawful duties.

He said the defendants flouted the state government directives on
Covid-19 lockdown when they were stopped, and thereafter, assaulted
the officers.

The Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adepoju urged the court to grant
his client’s bail in most liberal terms.

The Magistrate, Mrs Mary Awodele, however, granted the defendants bail
of 100, 000Naira with two sureties each in like sum.