Ibadan boils over fuel, naira scarcity as mob break into govt secretariat, injure police officer, destroy property

Barely 22 days to the general elections, youths in their hundreds stormed the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday, to protest the current state of the nation over fuel and naira scarcity.

The angry mob raged to the state Secretariat and forced their way into the premises as security personnel who appeared to have been caught unaware at the entrance scampered for safety.

Consequently, one police officer who is a detail at the Governor’s Office by the name, Inspector Dynasty Layemo, was injured by the mob who attempted to gain access into the Governor’s Office.

The police officer, had since been taken to an undisclosed hospital for immediate medical attention.

Some of the angry youths were heard shouting out of frustration in Yoruba language: “lori owo wa” which translates despite being our money.

The shocking incident left many civil servants inside the government secretariat in panicky as many were seen hanging around different spots in case of unforseen eventuality.

There were burning of tyres in front of the secretariat by the angry mob to register their anger.

The Executive Assistant on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd), who spoke to journalists condemned the act, saying the situation in the country affects everybody equally and should not be reason why anybody should hide under such to destroy or vandalise government property.

Meanwhile, visit to some of the banks revealed that majority of people on the queue wanted to withdraw money simply to meet their domestic needs and children’s school expenses.

They, were however, disappointed that the Automated Teller Machines were not dispensing or given maximum amount of 20,000 naira cash, while those who managed to enter the banking halls expressed bitterness over their inability to withdraw from the money deposited.

Point Of Sale operators also expressed frustration as they could not withdraw old or new notes from the deposit earlier made before extension of the deadline.

A resident of Gate who spoke with Vanguard said that the protesters were protesting their inability to withdraw money from the banks.

“Protests are currently ongoing at Gate and Iwo Road as I speak with you. They are burning tyres now,” he said.

A resident of Iwo Road also confirmed that the protest is ongoing.

“Yes. There is a protest here. People are currently protesting at Iwo Road over inability to collect their money from banks,” he also said.

In Oyo town, as hunger now looms in some families since farmers no longer accept the old notes from wholesale foodstuff dealers popularly called “alajapa” residents urged government to find urgent solution to the difficult situation.