FOLLOWING the unending political crisis in Oyo State, soldiers were yesterday deployed to major roads of Ibadan metropolis to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state.
The soldiers were seen mainly at Iwo Road, Agodi-Gate, Beere, Molete, Total Garden and the University of Ibadan gate.
During a meeting of the state security council, it was gathered that the Council took a decision to complement the efforts of the state Police Command.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Chris Olukolade, who said the soldiers were on training described the move as a properly mandated duty �when the need arises for the deployment of soldiers.�
According to him, �there is a standing force for the security of the state and the country in general and that it is what has been done,� adding that it was a normal routine of the army to train its men.
The state Security Council was attended by all the stakeholders in the security of the state except the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Jonathan Johnson, who delegated his Assistant, Mr. Sholla David.
Other security chiefs who attended the meeting included representatives of the General Officer Commanding 2nd Division (GOC), Immigration, Customs and the NDLEA as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Chuief Bola Alphonso and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, representative of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. David said over 15 vehicles were damaged at Iwo last Saturday.
Oba Adeyemi said all the traditional rulers in the state were making efforts to ensure that the crisis did not spread to other parts of the state. He, however, called on all the law enforcement agents to maintain law and order.
The paramount ruler added, �we are talking to security outfits to ensure that the spate of violence does not spread to other parts of the state.�
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Protocol, Chief Alphonsus said �what I can say is that there is training and re-training of soldiers. There is a standing order that the army should train and retrain and that is what is happening with respect to the presence of soldiers you have seen in certain areas in the state capital.”
Supporters of Governor Rashidi Ladoja and his deputy, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala clashed, weekend, at a PDP rally in which three people died.