By VICTOR ADEOTI

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun has given the suspected hoodlums, who looted government and private property in the state, 72 hours within which to return them or face the wrath of the law.

The governor gave the order while addressing newsmen during an on-the-spot assessment of some of the property looted by the hoodlums.

He called on the suspected hoodlums to surrender all the stolen items to the security agencies, traditional rulers, local government chairmen and community leaders in their respective domains.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the warehouses, where COVID-19 palliatives were stored as well as private stores, were recently looted in the state.

NAN also reports that the National Grain Silos in Ilesa town was not spared, as hoodlums looted all the food items kept in the facility.

The governor, apparent worried by the development, again imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state on Saturday.

Oyetola, however, said those who refused to honour the ultimatum would be tracked and brought to justice, while those who embraced it would be forgiven.

The governor, while sympathising with the victims of the looted property, promised them government’s support.

Speaking at Tuns Farm, one of the private property looted, Oyetola commiserated with Chairman of the farm, Alhaji Tunde Badmus, over the death of his staff during the raid.

The governor said: “What I witnessed here today is not actually a question of hoodlums, but armed robbers. They have actually removed all the machines that are here.

“It is very unfortunate. What I have seen here is massive looting, armed robbery and stealing of the highest order.

“I can say categorically that EndSARS protest is not what we are seeing here today. This is pure looting and it is all over”.

In his response, Badmus said that they had written formally to the police to report the murder and armed robbery that took place in the company.

He put the figure of what was lost to the looting at more than N100 million.

Speaking at Omoluabi garment factory, which was also looted, the governor said it was unfortunate that the looting occurred at a time when the government was encouraging firms to invest in the state.

He described the incident as unfortunate, sad and a premeditated move to disrupt the peace of the state.

“As a government, we will look at the possible ways of bringing the victims back to life through our efforts and the intervention of the Federal Government,” the governor said. (NAN)

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