Ibadan mayhem: Olubadan warns hoodlums, arsonists

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Tuesday asked the Mogajis (family heads) and Baales (village heads) in the flash points of the ancient city to begin headcount of the people in their areas with a view of exposing troublemakers and hoodlums disturbing the peace of the people.

The monarch, who summoned over 250 Mogajis and Baales to his Popoyemoja palace following the mayhem that occurred on Sunday where about 30 houses and scores of shops and vehicles burnt to ashes with attendant looting of property, said “enough is enough”.

The Mogajis and Baales, while responding lauded the monarch for the meeting and promised to send warning signals to troublemakers who persistently cause mayhem in some parts of the city as directed by Oba Adetunji.

They unanimously identified unemployment, drug abuse, idleness, inadequate synergy between the law enforcement agents and the grassroots as some of the factors giving rise to the spread of crimes in recent times.

They further reasoned that the time had come for family heads to conduct regular weekly family meetings through which family ties could be strengthened and existing gaps closed for family safety and solidarity.

It was suggested that where a Mogaji becomes unavoidably absent, he should delegate authority to the next in rank in the family. The meeting agreed that there was need for comprehensive database of people living in every family compound.

Oba Adetunji, who sympathized with victims of the mayhem, urged all the youths in the land to join the well-meaning people in stemming the tide of violence in order to make Ibadan more habitable for all and sundry, as law-enforcement agents could not do it alone.

While thanking the Olubadan for convening the security meeting, the Lagunna Balogun of Ibadan land, Chief Amusa Eleruweere, encouraged the first class monarch to conduct more of such meetings and involve the law enforcement agents.

Participating Mogajis and Baales were drawn from Idi Arere, Asuni, Oja’Gbo, Oopo Yeosa, Olorisa Oko, Asaka and other areas affected.

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