The new Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Afolabi on Tuesday revealed that 19 suspects have been arrested in connection with sunday’s cult clash in Owo, headquarters Owo Local Government Area of the State.
THISDAY reported that Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday ordered a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the town till further notice following the cult clash and unrest in the community.
However, CP Afolabi while speaking with Journalists at the command headquarters in Akure upon his assumption of office as the 45th commissioner of police in the coastal state said aside the 19 suspects, efforts are ongoing to arrest other miscreants having connection with the killing
Afolabi who had earlier went for an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scene of the violent cult attack that left 4 persons dead said peace has been restored to the affected areas which include Eyin Ogbe, Iselu, Ijebu Owo, Palace area, amongst others.
Consequently, the police boss assured that those arrested will be made to face the full weight of the law, stressing that level of compliance with the curfew imposed on the town by the State Government was satisfactory.
“So far, 19 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crisis. Investigations are ongoing to determine their level of involvement in the incident.”
“Life is precious and we will make sure that justice is dispensed over the Owo matter. There is proliferation of firearms in the hands of people who aren’t supposed to be in possession of them. And that’s why we are experiencing clashes here and there. But, we will work assiduously to make sure that such people are dispossessed of the firearms so that the state can be made safe and conducive for people to live.”
Afolabi issued a stern warning to miscreants and potential criminals to stay away from the state, emphasizing the command’s resolve to rid Ondo State of all forms of crime and criminality.
“For the period that I will be here, there will be zero tolerance to indiscipline. When you go to solicit for a help from a traditional ruler to influence me in doing posting, I consider it as an act of indiscipline and such won’t be tolerated. Also, laziness, lackadaisical attitude towards work won’t be accepted.”
He said his cardinal agenda centres on, professionalism, Investigation, intelligence gathering, administration and human rights, saying “I am going to give professionalism much attention. and there will be zero tolerance for indiscipline.”
He also promised to use Community safety partnership approach, by involving members of the public in its crime prevention strategy
“There will be Peace safety partnership with members of the public, a forum where you bring both the poor and rich on quarterly basis to discuss security issues affecting them in their various community.”
Fidelis David
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