The Oyo State Government, on Thursday, said the demolition of a building believed to be the hideout of Yoruba Nation agitators in Ibadan, the state capital, was based on a court order.
PUNCH Online reports that the state government, on Tuesday, demolished the buildings being used by the agitators of the Yoruba Nation who invaded the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan on Saturday, April 7, 2024.
The state Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Development, William Akin-Funmilayo, made the government’s position known while speaking with newsmen at the sites of demolished buildings allegedly belonging to agitators of Yoruba Nation located separately at Shagari area, Toye Oyesola Street, Boluwaji and also at Zone 4, Irorun Oluwa Community, Fatusi Ayegun Road, Odo Dudu area, in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state.
He, therefore, urged residents to always immediately report any suspicious act or threatening activity in their vicinity to the appropriate authorities.
The commissioner said, “The demolition was carried out two days ago and was based on the state High Court order. The court order was to the effect that the structure should be demolished.
“I will say one or two things about the order. It has to do with the Yoruba Nation agitators as this building belongs to them as contained in the court order and it is captured in the court order that it is believed that the building housed weapons and firearms. The activities going on there constituted a threat to peace and tranquillity in the state.”
He, therefore, assured all that the current administration would continue to prioritise the safety of the lives and property of its people with maximum security.
“I will advise residents around these areas to have a rest of mind, the government is out there to secure lives and property and when such a threat comes up, the government will take immediate actions. However, I want to implore residents around these areas to always inform the appropriate authorities whenever they notice any suspicious activity in their area.
“Security should be the concern of everyone in the society; the government can only act on the information that you give it. Once again, I implore everyone, whenever we see anything that could be a threat to lives or peaceful living, please bring it up to the attention of the government to protect lives and property,” he said.
Members of the Landlords and Landladies Association, Irorun Oluwa Community said when they noticed strange movements of the agitators, on Saturday morning, during their association meeting, they called the Rescue line 615 to alert the police, and they responded swiftly.
Similarly, the government has also demolished a facility being used by suspected illegal miners to process and package lithium out of the state.
The facility, located at Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area of the state, was demolished after obtaining a court order for that purpose.
Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde had, on February 28, 2024, ordered the closure of the facility, which was originally meant for recycling batteries and tyres.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines