At the State Government House in Osogbo, the Osun state government began the distribution of stolen objects in the state to their respective owners.
We found that after the 72 hours of amnesty granted by Governor Gboyega Oyetola, about 20 percent of the stolen items were returned to the state government to voluntarily return the items in their custody or face the wrath of the law.
Before the beginning of the house-to - house search by security officials, the Governor, who had previously inspected some of the recovered loots, alerted those still in possession of stolen objects to return them.
Samson Owoyokun, Secretary of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Recovery of Stolen Objects, said 14 local governments in the state were looting the objects handed over.
He added that the recovered items were dropped by the looters and the committee have been going round to pick them.
Some of the owners according to Owoyokun have identified their properties at the government house, Osogbo, where the recovered loots were deposited.
Owoyokun commended the governor for his unique ingenuity towards ensuring that the looted items were returned voluntarily by the looters while expressing optimism that the remaining items would be recovered.
Owoyokun, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties reiterated the position of the government that whoever refuses to embrace the offer would be punished.
“To the Governor, this voluntary return of the of loots is a welcome development. The intention is to assist the various owners of these items to have the opportunity of getting their properties and belongings because we believe strongly that it is going to be a big setback for them to have all these properties lost,” said Owoyokun.
While advising the looters on returning the goods, he said “What they should realise is that there are a lot of video clips and video coverage for all the looting that took place in the state.
“The implication of this is that there is no hidden place for anybody that looted anything in Osun. We are going to embark on a door-to-door search to recover the remaining stolen materials, Owoyokun said.
Dr Adeniyi Oginni, the Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency whose agency was also vandalised and looted said they recovered only about 15 per cent of the agency’s belongings.
While expressing his disappointment over the incidence, Oginni said many properties of the scheme were vandalized during the attack on Saturday.
He described the 72-hour amnesty as a very critical factor in the recovery of the stolen items.
“It was like a malicious attack on the agency. Apart from the things that were carted away, many things were vandalized about fifteen per cent have been recovered.
“Though, some of the electronics like flat TV have spoilt. There is a very critical aspect of our properties that have not been recovered. Our server, all our computers (both desktops and laptops). We have not seen any of them,” Oginni stated.
He commended the Governor’s directive that gave grace for the stolen items to be returned saying that some of the items that were carted away on Saturday, 24th of October, included electronics, ICT equipment, office furniture and medicines.
However, he appealed to residents of the state to cooperate with the Government in providing quality healthcare system under the Osun Health Insurance Scheme, by notifying the law enforcement agencies promptly at the sight of electronic equipment, computers, printers, furniture, generators, refrigerators and drugs belonging to the State, adding that citizens have a role to play in putting a stop to the wanton destruction of the Commonwealth of the State.
Speaking on behalf of the Senator representing Osun Central, Dr Ajibola Bashiru, Mr Bisi Babalola, confirmed that some of the properties carted away in the Senator’s house have been identified.
He said about forty-five per cent of the motorcycles, deep freezers and sewing machines have been identified among the returned loots.
