Police in Ogun State has confirmed its knowledge of a plan by some criminal elements to take advantage of the present situation in the country necessitated by restricted access to money as a result of the nonavailability of the newly redesigned Naira notes to cause mayhem in the state.
According to the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Frank Mba, intelligence report at the disposal of the police in the state indicated that some criminal elements are planning to take advantage of the challenging economic situation to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State.
Mba revealed this during a confidence-building patrol conducted by the Police and other security forces in the State last weekend to reassure residents of the state of police resolve to protect lives and property, prevent breakdown of law and order, and improve public safety and security.
The Ogun State number one Policeman commended the residents of the state for their resilience and peaceful conduct, in the face of the biting challenges, resulting from the new Naira policy and paucity of fuel supply in the State.
He warned that the Police, will not fold its arms and allow persons with criminal intentions, to hide under any guise whatsoever, to unleash mayhem on residents, private and public property, and critical national infrastructure, including banks and offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The CP assured that necessary security architecture has been emplaced to protect the peace loving people of the State.
He noted that Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state have been directed to arrest and bring to book, any person or group wanting to foment trouble and cause breach of peace in the State.
To this end, the CP, while empathizing with residents, enjoined all parents and guardians, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political and religious leaders, amongst other critical stakeholders, to prevail on their children, wards and followers, not to resort to violence, as all necessary actions are being taken to further ease the pains of the people in this regard.
Meanwhile, riots broke out in the early hours of Monday at the frontage of the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu and spread to major parts of the town, including the local government Secretariat where the mace of the council's legislative house was stolen.
The rioters, mainly youth, it was gathered, became angry following the refusal of the Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, of banks and the popular bank road at Ijoku area of Sagamu, to dispense cash to the customers.
Some of the aggrieved youths alleged that the ATMs have stopped dispensing cash since last week, when President Muhammadu Buhari ordered them to recirculate the old N200 notes.
The protesters barricaded the Sagamu-Benin expressway and others, preventing human and vehicular movements through bonfire.
The commercial banks at the Ijoku area were not spared during the protest as three of the banks; Union, Fidelity and Access, were attacked by the angry protesters.
While both Union and Fidelity were set ablaze, Access Bank was seriously damaged by the angry youth.
However, a youth leader in the town, Kayode Segun-Okeowo described the riots as a "motivated destruction and not a protest."
"This is not a protest. I'm a comrade and understand the ABC of protest. It's motivated to cause destruction, those behind this must stop", Okeowo told journalists on phone.
But, Governor Dapo Abiodun has fingered the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the riots.
While reacting to the protest during which banks and the Sagamu local government secretariat were attacked, Governor Abiodun blamed 'disgruntled members of the PDP' for the attacks, alleging that members of the party were seen leading the protest.
Abiodun, in a statement released by Kunle Somorin, his Chief Press Secretary, said while the protest was purportedly against the scarcity of naira notes, the real intention became obvious with the involvement of the known PDP members.
The Governor premised his assertion on the fact that he toured the local government on Sunday while on campaign tour of the local government, without any violence or disagreement.
According to him, the success of the APC rally of yesterday got feeble opposition and that this frustrated the PDP which therefore made their members embarked on the mindless destruction of properties.
"It is on record that the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which moved through Simawa to Ogijo and back to Sagamu, where two roads were commissioned yesterday, ended without any hitch.
"The APC rally was attended by tens of thousands of people at different locations, lasting from about 8.00 am in the morning and 8.00pm in the evening without any violence, quarrel or disagreements whatsoever", he said.
In a swift reaction, the Publicity Secretary of the State chapter of PDP, Akinloye Bankole has denied the involvement of the party in the protest, describing the Governor as a drowning man.
Bankole described the protest as a "clear indication" that Nigerians are tired of the APC government.
He said, "Dapo Abiodun is a drowning man that is readily looking for any available straw to hang on to, possibly for him to be rescued.
"We are not involved in such violent reaction, we have educated our people and we have encouraged them to make sure they reinvest that anger, that popular anger against APC and its government, they should reinvest it on the election day, take it to the polling booth and deal with them, vote them out on Saturday, that is what the PDP is preaching.
"We are not involved in anything violent and we are not known for violence. We know the APC by their antecedents, they are very violent, they are very vindictive and they are very deceptive and that is what is exactly working against them, not only in Sagamu, but also in other parts of the state as we have seen in the last few days."
The Ogun State Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi while speaking to journalists said that ‘not less than 30 suspects have been arrested so far’ in connection with the riot.
Oyeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, however assured that the situation has been brought under control.
"The riots have been brought under control in the greater parts of Sagamu., including the Sagamu- Ijebu Ode Express Road.
"Currently, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Ogun State, CP Frank Mba, is personally leading a combined team of policemen and soldiers to tackle the rioters on Bank Road in the centre of Sagamu.
“Complete normalcy has been restored in Shagamu, not less than 30 suspects have been arrested so far and they have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments on the order of the Commissioner of Police CP Frank Mba.
“Combine team of Policemen and military men are on ground to monitor the situation,” Oyeyemi assured.
Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun has appealed for calm saying attack on innocent people and destruction of public properties cannot solve the current problem.
The governor pointed out that: "Attacks on innocent people and destruction of private and public properties cannot solve the current problem but will rather worsen the situation.
"Therefore, we must not allow desperate politicians to mislead members of the public and use them as cannon to vent frustration.
"Our people should exercise patience and be law abiding, while waiting to cast their votes to the party that has stood by the populace even at this critical period" he stressed.
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