Looting and vandalism continued in the states on Saturday.
The Osun State Government has responded to the looting that has continued in the state by imposing an indefinite curfew.
The governor, Gboyega Oyetola, who announced this in a broadcast said the curfew will start from 3 p.m. on Saturday.
He said the curfew was necessary to curb the looting of warehouses across Osun.
It was reported that hoodlums looted a warehouse in Ede and Ilesha on Friday. There was also violence in Ile Ife and Osogbo over the looting of COVID-19 food aid warehouses.
Earlier Saturday, hoodlums looted the Iwo Local Government Secretariat and an office of the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff.
In reaction to this, Mr Oyetola said the government noted with huge disappointment, the abuse of the suspension, a day ago, of the 24-hour curfew, earlier declared in the State.
“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,” he said.
“After an Emergency Security Meeting this afternoon, 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. I enjoin all our citizens and residents to return home and remain in their homes until further notice.”
In the same vein, Barr. Simon Lalong of Plateau state has issued an immediate reinstatement of the 24-hour curfew earlier relaxed from 4pm today 24th October 2020 in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas till further notice.
According to the state government, the directive came as a result of the hoodlums who broke into the warehouses where palliatives delivered to the State by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development last week were stored awaiting distribution and carted them away.
This looting has spread to other facilities and is gradually degenerating thereby threatening the peace and security of the State.
The statement read in part “Fellow citizens of Plateau State, you will recall that I announced a 24-hour curfew in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas on 20th October 2020 in response to the disturbances that arose when hoodlums hijacked the ENDSARS protests leading to the destruction of lives and properties.
“After an assessment of the situation, the curfew was relaxed from the hours of 6am to 8pm from yesterday 23rd October 2020.
“However today, some hoodlums broke into the warehouses where palliatives delivered to the State by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development last week were stored awaiting distribution and carted them away.
“This looting has spread to other facilities and is gradually degenerating thereby threatening the peace and security of the State.
“To avoid further escalation, I hereby direct the immediate reinstatement of the 24-hour curfew earlier relaxed from 4pm today 24th October 2020 in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Areas till further notice.”
He therefore directed security agencies to enforce the curfew and ensure that all violators are arrested and prosecuted.
