Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has called on youths to yield to the plea of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhamadu Buhari, GCFR and the Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde, Fnse and stop the protests forthwith to prevent needless deaths occasioned by the activities of miscreants who are using it as an opportunity to carry out co-ordinated attacks to loot people’ properties.

This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner of Police of the State, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, which was made available to CEOAfrica and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Fadeyi Olugbenga.

The Commissioner stated that, undue hardships as well as needless deaths were meted out to some Police officers and innocent citizens in Oyo State and implored protesters to be calm for a while for government attention to all their demands.

 While reminding citizens that the police had earlier warned that miscreants would hijack the protests to cause mayhem, which is now the case, the police advised citizens to be on the lookout because some of these miscreants stole arms and ammunition from vandalised police stations.

The police statement reads in part; “the CP wishes to inform the general public that, due to the incessant attacks on the Police Stations and Police personnel, some Police arms and ammunitions have been carted away by hardened criminals.

“ This act is extremely dangerous and can be inimical to our general safety and co-operate existence, and in lieu of this, he wishes to plead with all and sundry within and outside Ibadan metropolis to be on the lookout for those enemy of progress to promptly report any group/individual who are not Police/military/other security agencies personnel in possession of such arms and ammunition and report to the nearest Police station or other sister security agencies immediately for recovery and necessary action.

“The CP wishes to continue to advise parents/guardians and all stakeholders to warn their children/wards to desist from acts that can lead to breakdown of law and order and wanton destructions to lives and property.

“He equally assures the good people of Oyo State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of threats or molestation from any quarters as the military and other sisters security agencies are complementing the efforts of the Police, while he strictly warns those criminal elements that hijacked Police arms during the protests to have a rethink and quietly return the prohibited firearms immediately before the full weight of the law catches up with them".