The Ondo State Police Command says it will not tolerate a repeat of the wanton destruction of government property that accompanied last year’s #EndSARS protests in the state.
DSP Funmilayo Odunlami, Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, said this in a telephone interview on Monday in Okitipupa.
She noted that the police had put in place tight security arrangements to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the state.
Okitipupa Local Government Area in Ondo State witnessed the destruction of property on Oct. 22, 2020, as some suspected hoodlums hijacked the protests.
The Okitipupa Oil Palm Company (OOPC), Police Station, Local Government Secretariat, Court Annex housing the Customary, Magistrates’ and High Courts in Okitipupa were torched by the miscreants.
Odunlami said that police personnel would be deployed to all strategic locations within and outside the state, to prevent a recurrence of the 2020 vandalism.
“We now have good working relationship with residents of the state at large against any breakdown of law and order and destruction of government property.
“We will deploy our personnel to all areas within and outside the state, to ensure the security of lives and property.
“This is because we will not fold our hands and watch any wanton destruction of government property under any guise, or any repeat of last year’s EndSARS protest,” Odunlami said.
The police spokesperson urged the youths to look for alternative ways of pressing home their demands without resorting to the destruction of government property.
Odunlami, however, urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against taking part in any protest to destroy government property.
She said that anyone arrested would be made to face the full weight of the law.