Aregbesola gives Osun residents ultimatum to submit guns

Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has given residents of the state in possession of illegal guns a seven- day ultimatum to either surrender the weapons or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

According to a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday by the media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola gave the ultimatum while receiving the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry he set up to look into the crisis between Ipetumodu and Ashipa communities.

The two communities had earlier in the year engaged in clashes, which led to the burning down of some houses. Some persons were also injured during the clashes.

The governor said, “People with illegal weapons should voluntarily submit them to relevant authorities in not more than one week from now before government begins to fish them out.

“People should live to the dictate of the law, our government will after the one week ultimatum embarks on house-to-house search for illegal weapons so that the state can have peace.

“Whoever is caught after the one week deadline will face the full wrath of the law because we are not in a stone age. The state will care for the weak. We are admonishing the strong to be mindful of those that are not strong.”

Aregbesola also called on politicians and persons with those he called “Private Army” and guards to immediately disband them. He said the state was entering into an era where it would be strict on the maintenance of the rule of law, peace and order.

The Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Ipetumodu-Ashipa communal crisis, Justice Olajide Falola, said the panel discovered that the axis was full with small arms.

He said, “We have virtually resolved the dispute between the two communities, especially the market day issue and boundary. We have also recommended that some persons be investigated for possible prosecution.

“There is a proliferation of arms and ammunition in the axis of the two communities. Those in possession of guns are reportedly being protected by elites in the society. We have recommended that police should take steps to clean up the area of these dangerous weapons.”