BEVERLY HILLS, January 22, (THEWILL) – Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde has asked the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest and treat those igniting ethnic tension in the state as criminals.
Makinde gave the order on Friday when Onadeko paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan.
He spoke against rising tension in the state by the ultimatum given by self-acclaimed leader of ‘Yoruba Freedom Agitators’, Sunday Igboho, to people of Fulani ethnic stock to vacate the Ibarapa area of the State.
Makinde said that attempts to fuel security tension under any guise that would threaten the corporate vision of Nigeria would not be tolerated by his administration.
He said that his government was not against any ethic group, but was determined to flush out criminal elements anywhere in the state.
He stressed that the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group residing in the state was not his government’s target, but hoodlums, bandits, irrespective of their tribes and religion.
“For people stoking ethnic tension, they are criminals and once you get them they should be arrested and treated like common criminals.
“For this administration, the major pillar for us is security because we know that all the good things we want to do economically won’t be possible in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.
“So, when people say things that are not lawful and within the spirit of Nigeria’s constitution, it is not acceptable here.
“And they cannot hide under being people protecting Yoruba interest to perpetrate chaos in the state”, the Governor said in a veiled reference to the quit order on the Fulani issued by Igboho.
Makinde reiterated that security remained one of the pillars of his administration, noting that all the good policies of his administration could not be actualised in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity.
He promised to give maximum support to the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to ensure safety of lives, property and economic prosperity of the state.
Makinde called for more synergy between the police and the Western Nigeria Security Network, code-named Amotekun.
He noted that those who demonised Amotekun were the ones issuing ultimatum to certain ethnic nationalities to vacate the state.
The governor welcomed the new police boss and assured the CP of his support in tackling insecurity in the state.
“We won’t make the job difficult. We will be sincere, open and support you”, he added.
In her remark, Onadeko pledged to make the lives and property of citizens of the state safe and secure saying that visibility policing had started in earnest.
She assured the governor that men and officers of the command would display a high level of professionalism and that corruption would be shunned, with the view to achieving common goals.
“I’m here to formally tell you that I have assumed duty, we promise to make the lives and property of the people of Oyo State safe and secure.
“Since I came in, we have started with our visibility policing. When I came in, I noticed that there were no policemen on the road, maybe it was still the aftermath of the EndSARS issue, but we have been able to draft them back.
“We have asked them to occupy their space because it is their constitutional duty. We have to nip crime to hit the barest minimum in Oyo state.
“We are going to be professional about our work, shun corruption, synergise and work with other sister agencies.
“We are all working toward one particular goal, that is, to make sure that Oyo State is safe and secur”, the CP said.
Onadeko further pleaded with the governor to assist the command with operational vehicles.
Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho had last week issued one week ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen to vacate the area after the killing of Dr. Aborode.
Following the expiration of the ultimatum on Thursday, Igboho stormed Ibarapa on Friday where he was welcomed by thousands of supporters.
A video surfaced on Twitter where he was addressing a huge crowd who cheered him as he insisted that Fulani herdsmen must leave the land.
” What is happening will not be limited to this place, we will drive out Fulani from entire Yoruba land. They want to be killing us. We will not accept this”, he was quoted as saying.
Tension is already brewing in Igangan, Ibarapa as the ultimatum expired on Thursday and with the surfacing of Igboho in the area on Friday.
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