Okitipupa, the commercial nerve centre of Ondo State, boiled endlessly on Thursday when a horde of angry youths set fire on several public edifices in the town.
The mayhem left in its wake the Okitipupa Divisional Police Station as well as the Okitipupa Local Government Secretariat burnt to ashes.
Not done, the protesters also marched to invade the Correctional Centre along Idepe Road, setting fire on a truck popularly known as Black Maria within the precinct of the centre.
In the process, virtually all prisoners in the over 57-year old prison were reportedly released by the youths.
It was learnt that the attempt by the Police in the area to enforce the declaration of curfew by the Ondo State Government sparked the violence.
It was gathered that the altercation between the Police and the angry mob led to the burning of the Police Station.
What followed after was that over 200 seized motorcycles and valuable property at the Police Station were reportedly released to the public.
In the ensuing commotion, the mob proceeded straight to invade the premises of the Correctional Service in the town. and released all the prisoners therein but left the staff unhurt.
It was aftermath of this that the protesters went straight to the Council Secretariat and set it ablaze.
It was confirmed that the Jegun of Idepe-Okitipupa, Oba Obatuga Adetoye, who is the traditional ruler of the town, made spirited attempts, though unsuccessfully, to prevail upon the protesters not to involve themselves in wanton destruction of public property.
Abodi of Ikale Land, Oba George Faduyile
Also, the Abodi and Paramount Ruler of Ikale Land Oba George Faduyile was said to have gone round the territory, counselling the youths not to allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous elements.
However, the incident has been roundly condemned by many youths in the area including Mr Ademola Akinwunmi who chastised the protesters as lacking in wisdom.
Said Mr Akinwunmi: “You can imagine further backwardness and suffering this action will bring to the already abandoned and deprived Okitipupa Division.
Jegun of Idepe-Okitipupa, Oba Obatuga Adetoye
“If only they channeled this energy towards the restoration of their electricity, the situation would have been different. If they like, let them go ahead and destroy everything but be prepared to dwell so long in darkness and underdevelopment. This is utter rubbish”
