There was protest in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital following scarcity of fuel and new Naira notes.
It was gathered that some miscreants within the popular Araromi Spare parts, Gate, on Friday, took advantage of the protest and set ablaze police station and vandalise banks in the area.
The peaceful protest, which started at Iwo road, suddenly turned brutal as protesters destroyed both government and private property along the roads.
The angry youths, who had earlier assembled at Iwo road, end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway, blocked all the major roads thereby causing artificial hindrances before heading towards Idi-Ape Agodi-Gate.
The protesters descended on passersby and barricaded all the roads leading to Agodi Government House and Governor’s Office before the arrival of the security personnel.
At Agodi-Gate, the miscreants within the market took advantage of the protest by burning the police station, destroying a bank, stealing phones and looting some roadside shops.
Unconfirmed reports said one of the Plasma TV and other valuables at the police station were carted away by the hoodlums before the arrival of Operation Burst who restored sanity into the area.
However, on the ugly situation, the state Police command has warned youths to avoid being used by agents of violence who want to capitalize on the situation to criminally enrich themselves as the general elections are fast approaching.
A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said Command was fully prepared to mobilize fully to prevent the criminal elements from turning the state into their playground.
He said available intelligence revealed that certain unscrupulous elements have perfected plans to hijack the current situation by attacking places of interest.
Osifeso said, “Members of the public are hereby advised especially with reference to the youth segment to avoid being used by agents of violence who want to capitalize on the situation to criminally enrich themselves especially as we navigate towards the 2023 general elections as the command is fully prepared to mobilize fully to prevent these criminal elements from turning the state into their playground.
“The state police command wishes to inform members of the public to stay calm and maintain peace even amidst pockets of protest that have emanated at different parts of the metropolis over hike in fuel pump price and unavailability of cash for dispense at ATM machines and Point of sales Terminal, especially within the capital.
“Worthy of note is that available intelligence reveals that certain unscrupulous elements have perfected plans to hijack the process, escalating the situation into full-scale chaos by shutting down and attacking places of interest which include but not limited to INEC facilities, Banks, media houses, schools, Correctional Centers and other critical infrastructures inclusive of looting major malls and business centers within the state.
“Consequent on the above, residents would witness high octane patrols in concert with relevant sister security agencies all in a bid to Heighten the level of confidence of residents and as well reassure them of the commitments of the state police command at providing comprehensive security for all residents in the state.”
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