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The Nation

Calm returns to Sagamu

•Dusk-to-dawn curfew continues

KEHINDE AKINYEMI, Abeokuta

NORMALCY returned to Sagamu, Ogun State, on Wednesday, after a violent demon-stration by irate youths paralysed economic and social activities in the town on Monday but the state government said that the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the town would continue.

The development came as the paramount ruler of Remoland and the Akarigbo of Sagamu, Oba Michael Sonariwo, and his family have relocated to a private residence in the town, while the National Youth Council (NYC), Ogun State chapter, has condemned the action of the youths.

The DAILY TIMES sources said that after the riot, which left behind large scale destruction of property including the palaces of the Akarigbo and the Ewusi of Makun and those of other top chiefs, relative peace had gradually returned.

The sources said that on Tuesday, most shops and business centres did not open for fear of renewed violence, but by Wednesday, some private shops and business centres had opened for normal operations.

The state governor, Oluse-gun Osoba, while addressing newsmen on the develop-ment, said that while the government would investi-gate the incident before deci-ding on next action to take, the curfew would continue.

According to him, “the dusk-to-dawn curfew will continue for now until we are convinced that peace has finally been restored in Sagamu. We are going to look at the problem first before we decide on what to do next. But for now it is too early to tell you what we are going to do.”

The NYC, in a statement signed by the state president, Tola Adenekan, said the action of the youths was uncalled for and unwarranted, noting that such violent demonstration could be inimical to the democratic progress so far recorded in the state.

The council appealed to the state government to provide an enabling environment for the youths to effectively co-ordinate their activities in the state.