#EndSARS: Osun imposes 24-hour curfew

GOVERNOR Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State has also joined his counterparts in Lagos, Edo, Ekiti and others to declare a 24-hour curfew to tame the spread of violence and criminalities that have marred the ongoing #EndSARS protests in parts of the country.

A release signed by the governor’s media aide, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said, worried by the increasing cases of violence in the protests in the state, the governor has imposed “a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State, effective from 11.59 pm today, Tuesday, October 20, until further notice.” 

The release continued, “By implication, there shall be no movement except those on essential duties who will be permitted to move around. These set of persons must have valid identifications to move around during the period of the curfew. 

“All citizens and residents are enjoined to comply with this directive as any person found contravening this order shall be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.”

The governor enjoined all the citizens  of the state to be peaceful and law abiding as “all efforts shall be made to protect them and their property.”

The rest of the release read, “The Government of the State of Osun notes with a high sense of responsibility the unfortunate dangerous dimension the #EndSARS protests have assumed across the country, particularly in the South West States.”

 “In our dear State, but for providence, the Governor would not have been alive to preside over today’s security meeting following the attempt on his life last Saturday. 

“In spite of the Saturday incident, we have allowed the protest to continue in the hope that the real protesters would take charge of the protest.

“Events of the last 48 hours have however shown clearly that the protests have been hijacked by criminals and hoodlums. 

“As a responsible and responsive government that took the sacred oath to protect the lives and property of our citizens, we will not sit and watch criminals unleash terror on our State. 

“Consequently, the Governor of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, hereby imposes a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State, effective from 11.59 pm today, Tuesday, October 20, until further notice.”