Normalcy returns to Sagamu after violent protest

…..30 suspects arrested – police

……mace stolen – LG Chair

…….protest politically motivated – govt

Normalcy have returned to Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State after a violent protest that rocked the town on Monday over scarcity of fuel and new naira notes.

ValidView Network gathered that Banks and business premises were attacked and set ablaze, cars looted and burnt, as shops were forced to remain under lock and key.

Residents claim the violence started around 5:30 am while law-abiding citizens were still sleeping.

Most affected was Oba Erinwole Road where about seven branches of commercial banks were attacked and ATM machines vandalised and looted.

The hoodlums also invaded the Sagamu Local Government secretariat and carted away the mace of the legislative council.

Confirming the attack on the council secretariat, the Chairman, Afolabi Odulate said the hoodlums invaded the secretariat and vandalised the property before they went away with the mace.

He said “Yes, they did invade the secretariat. No one was attacked. We had moved workers before they arrived here”. 

*They stole the mace. Yes they did, Odulate” said.

It took the intervention of a combined team of the police led by the Commissioner of Police and men of the Nigerian Army to put the violent protests in checks from escalating.

The commissioner of police, Frank Mba disclosed that 30 suspects were arrested inside one of the banks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mba warned against violent protests, an action he said would compound the already fragile situation in the country.

Meanwhile the state government has fingered elements in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of masterminding the attack. 

In a statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, the government urged the people not to allow desperate politicians to use them as cannon to vent frustration. 

“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.”