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The Kwara State Police Command has arrested 71 persons in connection with the recent communal clashes between Share and Tsaragi, in Ifelodun and Edu local government areas of the state.
Briefing newsmen in Ilorin on Thursday, the state police Commissioner, Mr Esosa Amadasun said that after investigations the number has come down to 40.
He said those remaining in the police custody had been charged to court.
Share and Tsaragi communities were about a fortnight ago embroiled in clashes over parcel of land and in the process no fewer than 30 houses were burnt.
The command also paraded 19 persons over the recent rival cult clashes in Ilorin, the state capital.
Amadakun spoke while presenting the newly and reinvigorated Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).
He regretted the unfortunate incident, in Share and Tsaragi, adding that “we believe that such senseless and wanton destruction of property will never reoccur again.
“However, suspects have been arrested and appropriate action would be taken against them in the court of law.”
He said that “recently also, there was a clash between two rival cults at Agaka and Fagba areas of Ilorin metropolis, where a life was lost; the swift response of my men prevented the escalation of the crisis and the arrested suspects are currently undergoing investigation.”
He reiterated the command ban on use of fireworks and bangers, adding that “anybody arrested for the, sale of the said items, will be dealt with according to the laws of the land.”
On the new FSARS, the commissioner said “in a bid to further curb and possibly put a permanent stop to heinous crimes like armed robbery and the ones stated above, a special outfit already in existence SARS was reformed, retrained, rebranded and reorientated to suit the current trend of globally accepted crime bursting norm.
“In line with and in order to give the outfit a distinct identity throughout the federation, the need for a dress-code became sacrosanct for easy identification and control”.
