By Ismaeel Uthman
Normalcy has returned to the State of Osun, after declaration of an indefinite 24-hour curfew, imposed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, following wanton looting and damages of both public and private properties by hoodlums and some other residents of the state, last Saturday.
OSUN DEFENDER noted that the intervention of men of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Service and Mobile police who were deployed to implement the curfew, forestalled further breakdown of law and order in the state.
Unlike the previous curfew during which ‘Street Boys’ effected the compliance with stay-at-home order, as a result of scanty security agents, residents of the state complied with the curfew, which has been relaxed late Wednesday.
All the major and networking roads in Osogbo, the state capital and Ilesa were deserted by the people, who did not want to be punished by the security agents manning the roads.
But there was no compliance with the curfew in Iwo, Ila-Orangun, Ile-Ife, Ejigbo and some other parts of the state, as the people continued with their normal daily activities in those areas.
There was no special deployment of security agents whatsoever to the mentioned areas for the curfew and there was no recorded violence.
On the first day of the curfew, soldiers dispersed every gathering of people by shooting into the air, chasing and beating people caught outside, after the expiration of the two hours’ grace given to the residents to return to their various homes before the commencement of the curfew.
The medium also observed that the soldiers and other security agents specifically went after the hoodlums who led the vandalisation and looting of government and private properties.
OSUN DEFENDER reporters, who have been monitoring compliance with the curfew, noted that a combined security team comprising soldiers, DSS officers, mobile policemen and armed personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corpse (NSCDC), was at some strategic areas to enforce strict compliance with the curfew.
In Osogbo the security teams manned Abere, the location of the State Government Secretariat, November 27 bridge, Aregbe area, Ola-Iya, Old-Garage, Stadium, Power Line, Ota-Efun, Still Rolling, Oke-Baale, Oke-Fia, Lameco, Dele Yes Sir, Odi-Olowo, Isale Osun, Oke-Onitea, among others.
The soldiers also mounted barricades at Oke Omiru junction, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ogedengbe School of Science at Isale General, Roundabout, Ita Balogun, Akewusola, all in Ilesa and Sabo market and other areas in Ile-Ife.
Some of the erring members of the public in both Osogbo and Ilesa were subjected to punishments by the soldiers.
OSUN DEFENDER saw some young men who were asked to ‘pin down’ their heads, look the sun, kneel down, sit on and roll down the roads by the soldiers at Aregbe, Odiolowo and Ota-Efun areas of the state capital.
The fear of being punished by the soldiers put away majority residents from the streets.
It was noted that some other soldiers were patrolling the state capital and Ilesa.
However, there were skeletal business activities at Ojo-Oba, Ota-Efun and Sasa markets in Osogbo.
Some commercial motorcycle operators were also seen carrying passengers, while they tried to bypass the areas where security agents were stationed.
Speaking on the curfew, a public analyst, Arch. Goke Omigbodun said it was needed to maintain peace and order and to track the people that had engaged in looting private and public properties.
Omigbodun said: “We need the curfew that is in place now for the time being. When the first curfew was eased, the people abused it as they went into public and private warehouses to loot items. And most of the items looted were not related to COVID-19 palliatives.
“I am not sure there was any COVID-19 palliative at Orisunbare market, where private individuals sustained a lot of losses. I don’t think there was any COVID-19 palliative at Osun Mall where a lot of telephones were carted away. I don’t think there was any COVID-19 palliative at TUNS Farms, where a young boy was killed. I am not sure there was COVID-19 palliative in the homes of few people. Mrs. Titi-Laoye Ponle did not have any palliative at home, yet her house was looted.
“So, if these looters are to be tracked and if they enjoy the amnesty the government has extended to return the looted items, then we need this curfew. If there is going to be any movement at all, it should be for some serious purposes, among which is returning the looted items.
“For those who will not return the items, the security personnel need to go after them, such can only be done at best when everybody is indoor. The curfew can now be eased after sometime. For now, we need the curfew so that more peace will be restored.”
