Fear grips residents as hoodlums take over Osun community

The peaceful atmosphere of Osogbo, Osun State capital is now being threatened following the prowling of suspected armed hoodlums who laid siege in major parts of the town to unleash terror on innocent inhabitants of the place.

The hoodlums suspected to be cultists said to have armed themselves with guns, cutlasses, clubs, knives, evil magical powers like charms and other dangerous weapons to perpetrate their evil deeds in the town.

The reason for their callous acts remained unknown as of the time of filing in this report, this might not be unconnected with the joblessness of many youths in the state.

Meanwhile, the state police command Public relations Officer, Mrs Yemisi Opalola said, eleven of the hoodlums had been arrested with dangerous weapons and that they are now being interrogated by the State Criminal Department of the command.

However, their nefarious activities were well pronounced in the last few days at Oke-Baale, Olaiya, Egbatedo, Gbeemu, Oja-Oba, Atelewo, Idi-Omo, Balogun and Ita Akogun areas and have thrown the entire people of the town into a state of confusion as they shot sporadically into the air to cause commotion in the dead hours of the day.

During their operations which normally being carried out between the hours of 10 pm to 12.00 pm of the day, residents usually being frisked from top toes and got disposed of their belongings and other valuable items.

Speaking with our reporter, one of the inhabitants of the mentioned affected areas, Adesola Adegbite, hinted that, many victims of the hoodlums would be mercilessly beaten before being robbed of their belongings.

Adegbite who noted that the security in the town at night is now porous wondered why organised armed thugs would be inflicting terror on the residents of the town without being checkmated by security operatives on time.

According to him, ” these men are fiercely looking and can do and undo if not curbed by the concerned authorities. My advice fr all and sundry in the state especially in the state capital, Osogbo is to go back to their various homes before it will be dark in the night.”

Also, a middle-aged man who identified himself as Titus Oluwasuyi, noted that there is a need for government to work more on security due to the influx of cultists and political thugs.

He revealed that they were now everywhere and guns were now used freely in Osogbo and residents of some areas are now becoming scared because people are killed at will.

He said, “We now advise ourselves within Osogbo not to stay outside till late at night again but to stay safe in our homes as there is now fighting in the town.”

In his own comment, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Deputy Superintendent of Corp (DSC), Daniel Adigun confirmed the incidents but explained that their identities could not be ascertained.

“We don’t know as of now if they are thugs or members of secret cults, but definitely they are hoodlums who are disturbing the peace of the society.

“The violence just started suddenly on Monday and as of yesterday, intelligence report has it that in some parts of Osogbo, they wanted to come out even in the morning.”

“The situation is already under control as the state security Joint Task Force (JTF) was able to stem the tide and anybody who wants to foment trouble will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

He stated that the cause of the violence could not be ascertained as it started suddenly on Monday.

In her own submissions, the Osun Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mrs Yemisi Opalola said the perpetrators of the acts had been arrested with their weapons and promised to get to the root of the matter.

Opalola affirmed that they are now being interrogated by the State Criminal Investigations Department of the police command in connection with the happenings.

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