#EndSARS unrest: DIG visits Osun governor, says police will restore peace

Clement Adeyi, Osogbo

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police for the South West, Leye Oyebade, has assured of the police’s readiness to redouble efforts to restore peace to Osun State.

The DIG gave the assurance during a courtesy call on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola at the Government House, Okefia, Osogbo, the State capital, following an attack on the Governor as well as the looting and destruction of government and private property by hoodlums in the wake of the #EndSARS protests.

Oyebade stated that the Inspector-General of Police has issued an order to the police to take over the public space and protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

The DIG indicated that those who carried out the acts were not protesters and would not be allowed to continue unleashing terror on society.

‘Those outside now are not protesters and we cannot allow them to continue that way. The IGP has given us the order to take over the space and we will communicate to members of the public on why peace must reign,’ Oyebade said.

‘We will embark on consultations and meetings to engage the people. Where there is a lacuna, we will fill in the gap. We are going to work in synergy with other security agencies. All of us must come together as one to assist in moving the State to the next level.’

The DIG, who was a former Assistant Inspector-General of Police of the then Zone XI covering Oyo, Ondo and Osun States, described Governor Oyetola as a man of peace and assured him of the cooperation of the police in securing the State.

Governor Oyetola, who commended his security aides for living up to expectations during the attack on him, restated that it was a preplanned attempt on his life.

‘My instinct was telling me not to go there because two days earlier, we heard them shooting into the air.

‘It was supposed to be a peaceful protest, but when you are carrying dangerous weapons, guns, cutlasses, axes, it is no longer peaceful. I thank God for saving my life,’ the Governor said.

He also extended his appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director of DSS, the Air Force, the head of Security and Civil Defence Corps and others for their roles in ensuring that peace returns to the State.