Police: Hoodlums didn’t raze 200 houses in Oyo

The Oyo police command has debunked the rumour that 200 houses and 29 vehicles were razed during a midnight attack in some parts of the state on Saturday.

Olugbenga Fadeyi, the police public relations officer (PPRO) in Oyo, in a press statement said houses were not razed in the attack that happened in Odo-Osun/Ita baale, Aderogba and Bayerunka/Ogbori efon areas of Ibadan.

Some hoodlums had gone on the rampage in the early hours of Friday in these areas looting shops and houses.

The police confirmed the attack, but debunked the claims that houses and vehicles were destroyed in the process.

“The true position of this is that no such incident happened and no such magnitude of houses and cars were burnt at Odo-Osun/Ita bale/Aderogba areas of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,” the police said.

“What really happened was that hoodlums from these areas came out in the early hours of 29/01/2021, in their usual manner, with dangerous weapons to loot shops and set up bonfires. A house and about two shops were looted. But the swift response of Police patrol teams doused tension and the hoodlums were dislodged.

“Routine patrols were intensified to forestall further attacks and lootings. Sequel to this, at about 2015 hrs, the hoodlums from Aderogba area came out again and attempted to vandalize and loot shops at Beyerunka/Ogbori Efon areas.

“Police patrol teams and those of Amotekun were drafted to the area. During a hot chase by the teams, a cut-to-size dane gun was recovered from one of the hoodlums while bonfires set up were put out.

“The hoodlums thereafter fled the scene.

“Constant routine patrols have been intensified in those areas and normalcy has been restored. The Police are on the trail of these hoodlums to get them arrested and carry out prosecution accordingly.”