Ibadan on Fire As Political Thugs Go Berserk Again

Political thugs unleashed terror yesterday morning on the residents of Opoyosa and Ayeye in Ibadan, Oyo State, looting and destroying properties worth several thousands of Naira. The hoodlums were said to have stormed the areas at midnight and were dispersed at 4 a.m, when members of the state security outfit, Operation Burst, arrived at the scene.

Last Friday, hoodlums attacked residents and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were waiting to receive Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

On Sunday, they attacked Born Photo, Idi-Arere near Oke-Ado, Ibadan, vandalising vehicles, houses and looting shops.

Residents of Ayeye and Opoyosa woke up early to discover some of their shops looted by the hoodlums.

More than 13 shops were looted, major roads were littered with broken bottles and sharp objects to prevent vehicles from accessing the areas.

Residents complained of frightening gunshots sounds in the night, which they said caused anxiety among the people.

A trader at Ayeye Market, simply identified as Baba Folake, who sells assorted drinks, described the incident as disturbing.

He said: “How long shall we continue with this violence? Last Friday, it was the killing of a policeman and destruction of properties, many innocent people were injured.

“On Sunday, Born-Photo and Popo areas we learnt were sacked by criminals, yet we have law enforcement agents in the State.

“Yesterday, it was agony resulting from losses. Many shops were looted; we are trying to make ends meet because we trade with loans. Please we need peace and order in the State.”

The Chairman, Ibadan North West Local Government, Wasiu Olatunbosun, blamed the attack on the opposition.

Olatunbosun fingered a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader in the local government as the mastermind of the attack.

He said: “What happened yesterday was politically motivated and it justified the alarm which was raised that the opposition has planned to forment trouble in some local governments in Ibadan.

“The attack was led by a PDP youth leader in the local government and people saw him when he led these thugs to unleash terror on the people.

“When I learnt that these people have come to cause havoc, I called Operation Burst and that was why the damage was not much.”

Credit: Nigeria Camera