Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Thursday visited the Ago Alaye and Araromi Obu in Odigbo Local Government, where communal clashes broke out on Tuesday over a land dispute .
The governor, who was in the town to access the level of destruction, was accompanied by the commissioner of Police, Mr Undie Adie, the Brigade Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Zakari Logun Abubakar and other security chiefs.
He was conducted round the Ago Alaye community where he accessed, first hand, the destruction and burning of houses.
Akeredolu had on Wednesday ordered a twenty-four hour curfew on Ago-Alaye town as part of the measures to prevent the escalation of the violence.
The governor visited the Palace of the Ajobu of Araromi Obu, where he assured the monarch of maximum security of lives and properties of the people of the town.
He said government is ready to take action on Ago Alaye community if the violence persists.
The Governor, who assured that security forces are on ground to maintain peace and order, commended the Ajobu of Araromi Obu for maintaining peace in the community, particularly by appealing to the people against a reprisal.
He said: ” When we heard about the disturbance at Ago Alaye, we made our decision to make sure that total curfew imposed on Ago Alaye is in place. Luckily for them they have deserted the place
“I have heard that you called your subjects that there should not be any reprisal. You have maintained peace within Araromi community. We thank you for that . We will not allow miscreants to disturb the peace in this community. “
Akeredolu, who later addressed the youths in the town, vowed that the perpetrators of the criminal act will be brought to book.
He said government will not fold its arms and allow criminals perpetrate crimes by unleashing terror against a whole town.
He urged the youths to cooperate with the security agents on ground and also help them in course of their investigations so as to apprehend everyone involved in the unfortunate incident.
He, however, pleaded with the youths not to embark on any reprisal attack, urging them to continue to promote and maintain peace in the town.
The Ajobu, who thanked the Governor for visiting the town, assured him that the people will continue to remain calm and cooperate with the security agents.
Earlier, the Governor visited the rubber plantation, the Rubber Estate Nigeria Limited, to assure the operators of adequate security of the lives and properties of the company and its workers.
Akeredolu, who was received by the Managing Director of the factory, Philips Carty, said the company is important to the state because of its contribution to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
He said: “This is an unscheduled visit. When I got to Ago Alaye, I decided to come here and see. I learnt since the unfortunate incident, the factory has shut down
“I felt we should come in and tell you that we have put enough security around and there’s no reason for you to be afraid. You can go ahead and do your bussiness. This factory is important to us.”
He later visited the Palace of Abodi of Ikale land, Oba George Babatunde Faduyile, where he pleaded with the traditional rulers in Ikale land to call their people at Ago Alaye to order.
He said the state government will urgently set up a commitee to look into the involvement of the two sides of the conflict.
He warned that his administration will not tolerate criminality under any guise, stressing that whoever is found culpable in the Ago Alaye crisis will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
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