Osun state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, Saturday imposed another 24-hour curfew as hoodlums burgled shops and houses in the state.
In an emergency broadcast, Oyetola said the curfew should take immediate effect and there shall be no vehicular (including Okada) or human movement.
Hoodlums have taken over the state on Friday after burgling warehouses where COVID-19 palliatives were stored in Ede, Osogbo and Ilesa.
The hoodlums on Saturday morning burgled houses of politicians and took away motorcycles, pepper grinding machine and other valuable things.
They went berserk in Iwo after looting the local government as they set the secretariat ablaze.
The hoodlums also burgled shops owned by private individuals and looted goods in various markets.
At FOMWAN area, Ogo-oluwa, Osogbo, the community stopped one of the hoodlums who had burgled Ayegbaju market and retrieved looted beverages.
Oyetola said, “government notes with huge disappointment, the abuse of the suspension, a day ago, of the 24-hour curfew earlier declared in the State to forestall the breakdown of law and order and protect the lives and property of citizens and residents.
“It is unfortunate that hoodlums and criminals have taken advantage of government’s action to wantonly loot government and private property, including private business premises and homes in several parts of the State this morning. This is unacceptable and it stands condemned.
“After an Emergency Security Meeting this afternoon(Saturday), where the whole situation was reviewed and assessed, we came to the inevitable conclusion to declare a curfew. Consequently, I hereby declare a 24-hour curfew across the whole State with immediate effect.
“This inevitable conclusion was reached to avert the continuation of this irresponsible act, especially now that the genuine protesters have suspended their protest earlier today.
“My fellow citizens, the declaration of a 24-hour curfew, which will be indefinite until further notice, is to prevent the current state of anarchy from degenerating into large-scale breakdown of law and order.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no vehicular (including Okada) or human movement during this period. Only those on essential duties will be permitted to move around. These persons too must carry with them proper identification to allow access.
“Violators of the curfew rules shall be prosecuted in line with the extant laws of the State,” Oyetola warned.
