News Magazine

Thursday 30 May 2013

47 Youths Arrested, 8 Policcemen Hospitalised In Ondo Crisis


ondo
Eight policemen deployed to quell the uprising that erupted in Ile Oluji area of Ondo State over the desperate plan by some youths to eject the traditional ruler, Oba Suulade Adedugbe from the palace who were critically wounded have been referred to the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital in Ile Ife for medical attention.
The policemen were alleged to have been shot by the violent youths who invaded the Oba’s palace.
Police have arrested 47 persons in connection with the crisis, while the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Ile Oluji is also said to be hospitalised following the injury he sustained while trying to quell the crisis.
This is coming as the state government yesterday set up a judicial commission of enquiry to probe the violence that led to the death of three persons.
According to the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Rotimi Adelola, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is to look into the recent disturbances and crises in Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government of Ondo State, especially the disturbance of May 27 and 28, 2013 and/or any similar disturbance in Ile Oluji.
The commission has Justice Nelson Adeyanju as Chairman, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, Chief Olugbenga Ale as members and Mr. Fredrick Oye as Secretary
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry is to “recommend appropriate sanction, take stock of the losses or damages occasioned during the crises, make appropriate recommendations to government on the subject of the terms of references or any other matter connected with the crises.”
The Commission of Inquiry which has 14 days to submit its findings is to be inaugurated today, at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office.
Also, the governor, Dr Mimiko yesterday, at a Democracy Day lecture said the crisis in Ile Oluji has some undertone and has nothing to do with the citing of a Federal institution in the area.
He confirmed that a policeman who was shot by the youths was operated upon at OAUTH in Ile Ife, yesterday.
Meantime, soldiers from the 323 Artillery Regiment in the state have been deployed to the troubled town to compliment the efforts of the policemen.
Also, the palace of the Oba was said to have been vandalised by the irate youths.
There was partial curfew in the town yesterday as both commercial and social activities were completely paralysed following the violence in the town.
Police sources said that the youths picked up have started fingering their sponsors and are being detained at the state SIIB in Akure.
Reports said that the Oba has returned to the palace and he is under police protective custody.
The Ondo State Government in a statement on the crisis signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Eni Akinsola, said there was no truth about a Polytechnic in Ile Oluji as rumoured by some people in the community, a rumour that resulted into a violent protest in the week.
Akinsola said: “The state is not contemplating a new polytechnic now as it is busy repositioning its two universities in Okitipupa and Akungba and the polytechnic in Owo.
“We have also found out that the federal government has also not decided on citing any higher institution in the state now. We are therefore shocked to hear that the crisis is linked to a rumoured location of a polytechnic to and away from the town.” 

No comments:

Post a Comment