Osun: Police Confirm Killing Of Farmers In Modakeke As Govt Calls For Calm

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the killing of no fewer than five persons by unknown gunmen in Modakeke area of the state.

The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, gave the confirmation in a statement in Osogbo, Osun State capital

The statement read, “The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command, CP Olawale Olokode, psc in his usual pragmatic approach to tackle crime and criminalities wishes to assures the residents of Alape via Modakeke area of adequate security coverage as he personally lead the Police Response Team and Tactical Unit of the Command to the scene of the incident where about five (5) people were fiercely murdered in the early hour of today 20th August, 2021, in order to restore normalcy.

“The CP appeals to the residents of the area to remain calm as the Command is resolute to get to the root cause(s) of the dastardly act and the perpetrator(s) will be brought to book.

“The Commissioner of Police urges the residents of the area to avail the Command credible information that will fast track the arrest of the perpetrator(s) of the evil act,” the police spokesperson stated.

Meanwhile, Osun State Government of the allayed the fears of a possible resurgence of the Ife/Modakeke crisis, just as it appealed to the people of the areas not to allow criminal elements to seize any situation to unleash mayhem on the people.

Government has also ordered immediate deployment of armed policemen with support from the army in the trouble areas to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

The State Information Commissioner, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, said these in a statement she released on Friday evening after a meeting of government officials with heads of security agencies, where the situation in Ife and Modakeke areas was critically examined.

Government, while sympathising with the families of those that died in the unfortunate incident, also called on security operatives to get to the root of the circumstances leading to the death of the deceased.

It also counselled residents and citizens not to take the laws into their hands.

“Mr. Governor personally spoke to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Moses Oyediran Oladejo and they both assured him of their commitment to peace by ensuring that the people from both areas also continue to remain peaceful and law abiding.

“As government, we are resolved to do everything possible to protect citizens from actual and potential threats. To this end, we have ordered immediate deployment of security operatives to restore law and order.

“We have also directed security operatives to arrest and prosecute any person found fomenting trouble and to fish out those responsible for the killing of the five farmers.

“Government enjoins all citizens to be peaceful and to be law abiding as all efforts shall be made to protect them and their property,” the statement added.