The Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has appealed to citizens of the State to exercise restraints in the face of the protests against police brutality in the country, adding that the government was s already responding to the people’s outcry.
Oyetola, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, advised citizens not to take laws into their hands considering that Osun is a peaceful State, and that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised reforms in tge Force and given directives to the Inspector-General of Police to wade into the situation immediately.
The statement read in part: “We appeal for calm and urge our citizens to continue to uphold the peaceful profile of the State by not taking laws into their hands. Let us not be tempted to attack public properties and facilities which are ours and took the government and taxpayers many years of sacrifice and struggles to build.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has given directives to the Inspector-General of Police to do what needs to be done to bring to justice officers that have been found culpable of infringing on the rights of citizens.
“We believe that the Nigerian Police Force has taken note of our agitations, and that the Inspector-General will call his men to order where necessary.
“We wish to also remind the good people of the State of Osun of the patriotism of the vast majority of Police Officers in the country, men and women who have been committed to protecting the lives and properties of citizens over the years, and a lot of them have died in the cause of their duty.
“Let us therefore not take our anger against a reckless few on the entire Force, that is working day and night to ensure our safety.
“Our citizens can count on the efforts of the government of the State of Osun to continue to do everything possible to protect citizens from actual and potential threats.
“Let us therefore not destroy our collective heritage while trying to right the wrongs of others. Two wrongs don’t make a right”, Oyetola explained.
