From Bola Ogunlayi. Ibadan
Properties worth Millions of Naira were damaged overnight in Idi Arere area of Ibadan as shops and residential buildings were set ablaze during a clash between rival gangs.
The notorious gangs have been engaging in physical confrontations and attacks on innocent people while shops and stores were looted in reckless zeal.
Same incident occurred in 2016 in the same area where over 20 buildings were touched by hoodlums who carted away properties worth millions of Naira.
The Oyo state government quickly responded by setting up of Operation Burst and launching of Security Trust Fund, an exercise that the latest disturbances has seriously messed up.
What led to the Saturday attack and the number of victims is yet to be ascertain as at the time of filling this report .
The Oyo state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu could not be reached but a source who pleaded anonymity said police has waded in with some arrest made.
Protocol Officer at Olubadan Palace ,Yanju Adegbite who escaped being attacked by the gang said “I was coming from Ogbomoso early this morning, around 4.30am, I ran into some arsonists at Idi Arere. One of the Policemen in the troubled area directed that we should take alternative route to escape attack.”
” It is pathetic to see how these street urchins razed down shops and looted people’s shops” ,he exclaimed.
Meanwhile the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 has summoned an emergency meeting of all family heads in the areas connected with the incident.
The Mogaji and Baale expected at the palace on Tuesday are those whose family compounds fall within Oja’gbo, Beyerunka, Labiran, Idi Arere/Asuni, Asaka, Isale Osi, Oopo Yeosa and Olorisa Oko areas of Ibadan.
Oba Adetunji gave the hint of his proposed emergency meeting with family heads of the affected areas while receiving members of the National Council of Muslim Youths, NACOMYO led by Sheikh Daud Afolabi in his palace on Sunday.
According to the first class monarch, the nefarious activities of the street urchins in some areas in Ibadan were becoming worrisome.
He stressed that the need to curtail the menace of hooliganism through collective effort had become imperative.
Oba Adetunji who sympathized with the victims of arson and looting noted that the security of lives and properties was not only the responsibility of law enforcement agents but of all and sundry.
The step, according to him would also assist in taking proactive measures on security matters as we gradually approach the 2019 general elections.