●Demolition of buildings based on court order, says commissioner
Oyo State Government, on Thursday, urged residents of the state to always immediately report any suspicious act or threatening activity in their vicinity to the appropriate authorities.
Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Development, Mr William Akin-Funmilayo, stated this 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, both in Oluyole Local Government area, Ibadan.
Recall that the state government had on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 demolished the buildings being used by the agitators of the Yoruba Nation who invaded the state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan on Saturday, April 7, 2024, following a court order.
He said: "The demolition was carried out two days ago and was based on an Oyo 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 dangerous weapons and firearms. The activities going on there constituted a threat to peace and tranquility in Oyo State."
He, therefore, assured that the government of Governor 'Seyi Makinde will continue to prioritise safety of lives and properties of its people with maximum security, urging them to support government efforts.
He further stated: "I will advise residents around these areas to have a rest of mind, government is out there to secure lives and properties and when such 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. As His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde, always says, 'if you see something say something'.
"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 properties."
Residents of the areas where the incidents happened appealed to the state government to level the structures to ground zero to prevent hoodlums from using them as hideouts to perpetrate their evil acts.
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, adding that the police responded swiftly.
The members explained further that the building belonged to a woman who was unknown to the association. They added that lots of rifles, firearms, dangerous weapons, camouflage uniforms and kits were later discovered in the massive compound.
Similarly, the state 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 Makinde had, on February 28, 2024, ordered the closure of the facility, which was originally meant for recycling batteries and tyres.