The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu has pleaded with genuine protesters to yield to the pleas from the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde and stop their actions, in order to prevent needless deaths being caused by the activities of miscreants.
The police commissioner disclosed that the hoodlums had been seizing the opportunity provided by the protests to carry out coordinated attacks to loot, kill and maim people.
Speaking through a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, Enwonwu said that he had been moved with concern that in spite of advice to EndSARS protesters, traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of thought, that miscreants would hijack the protests and capitalise on the situation to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens, all that were envisaged had come to pass.
He pointed out that undue hardships and needless deaths were meted out to some police officers and innocent citizens in Oyo State.
“The Commissioner of Police wishes to inform the general public that due to the incessant attacks on police stations and personnel, some arms and ammunition have been carted away by hardened criminals.
“This act is extremely dangerous and can be inimical to our general safety and corporate existence,” the PPRO said in the statement.
The police commissioner enjoined residents in the metropolis “to be on the lookout for those enemies of progress and promptly report any group or individual in possession of such arms and ammunition, and who are not police, military or any other security agencies’ personnel.”
Enwonwu also advised parents and guardians and all stakeholders to warn their children and wards to desist from acts that could lead to breakdown of law and order, and destruction to lives and property.
He assured the state residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear of threats or molestation from any quarters, as the military and other sisters security agencies were complementing the efforts of the police.
The police commissioner also warned the criminal elements that stole police arms during the protests to have a rethink and return the prohibited firearms, to avoid feeling the full weight of the law.
