Modakeke killings: Gov’ Oyetola calls for calm, begs residents not to unleash chaos

Government of the State of Osun on Friday allayed the fears of a possible resurgence of the Ife/Modakeke crisis over the recent killing of farmers in the community.

Governor Oyetola appealed to the people of the areas not to allow criminal elements to seize any situation to unleash mayhem on the people even the government has also ordered immediate deployment of armed policemen with support from the army in the trouble areas to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

The State Information Commissioner, Funke Egbemode, said these in a statement she released on Friday evening after a meeting of government officials with heads of security agencies, where the situation in Ife and Modakeke areas was critically examined.

Governor Oyetola, who headed the meeting sympathised with the families of those that died in the unfortunate incident. He also called on security operatives to get to the root of the circumstances leading to the death of the deceased.

It also counselled residents and citizens not to take the laws into their hands.

“Mr. Governor personally spoke to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Moses Oyediran Oladejo and they both assured him of their commitment to peace by ensuring that the people from both areas also continue to remain peaceful and law abiding.

“As government, we are resolved to do everything possible to protect citizens from actual and potential threats. To this end, we have ordered immediate deployment of security operatives to restore law and order.

“We have also directed security operatives to arrest and prosecute any person found fomenting trouble and to fish out those responsible for the killing of the five farmers.

“Government enjoins all citizens to be peaceful and to be law abiding as all efforts shall be made to protect them and their property,” the statement added.

Punch had earlier reported that there was palpable tension between residents of Ile-Ife and Modakeke of Osun State on Friday, following the killing of five farmers from Modakeke along Toro Road in the early hours of the day.

The Punch report said five victims, all male, were found dead on the road to Toro village, where they reportedly had farms.

The foremost newspaper quoted a community leader in Modakeke, Femi Eluyinka, who confirmed the incident in an interview with our correspondent, said some people from the town, accompanied by police operatives, evacuated the corpses.

Mr Eluyinka, who said the incident had aggravated tension in Modakeke town, said, “Policemen operatives have arrived; tension is on the rise; five of them (deceased) were indigenes of Modakeke and they were killed this morning along Toro road. They were heading to their farm.”