Residents raise alarm on criminal activities in Akure

Temitope Olanipekun

Residents of Maronu area, in Akure, the Ondo State capital has raised the alarm over suspected criminal activities going on at an abandoned new stadium complex in the area.
The residents said the alert became necessary due to the level of crimes and criminality in the town.
This alarm is coming four days after some suspected hoodlums were arrested by the men of the state police command in an uncompleted building at Alagbaka area of Akure and few meters away from the Ondo State House of Assembly.
The Residents are calling on the Ondo State Police Command and the state government to clamp down on the hoodlums who allegedly used the abandoned new stadium as abode.
The new stadium project which has been abandoned since the administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu, was located at the Maronu area of the state capital.
The current administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Is reportedly planning to return work to the stadium.
It was earlier reported that Fulani herdsmen and Indian hemp smokers had taken over the abandoned stadium but the residents said the hoodlums who had made the stadium a hideout had increased in number.
A resident, who identified herself as Mrs. Ojo said the hoodlums were increasing day by day at the premises of the abandoned stadium.
She said, ” On many occasions, the hoodlums would attack the passers by and rob them of their belongs after which they would run into the premises of the new stadium to escape.
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“If you passed by the road beside the stadium anything after 9pm, you are at risk of attack by the hoodlums, that is where they stay now and we have not been seen police to go into the premises to arrest any of them. ”
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr. Femi Joseph said the command was not relenting in patrolling the area.
He urged the people of the area to inform the command anytime they see any of the hoodlums around the new stadium.
” Our men have been patrolling the area very often, we will also appreciate it if the residents of the area can be informing us about the activities of the hoodlums in the said premises. ” Joseph stated .
It was gathered that the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu was said to be looking into the project but had not made any pronouncement on what the administration would do about it.
However, a source also disclosed that some foreign investors had been indicating interest in the project.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr. Gbenga Adelaiye said Akeredolu was already acting on project and come out with a solution.
” The governor has indicated his intention to revisit the issue, we are making some findings about what happened to the project to be abandoned for so long. As soon as government settles finally, pronouncement would be made on it,” he explained.