Twenty suspected Yoruba nation agitators, on Saturday, were arrested by security personnel for their alleged role in the invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital.
Earlier, some Yoruba nation agitators had, on Saturday morning, invaded the secretariat and took over some parts of the area.
Eyewitnesses told newsmen that the masked men were stationed at different locations within the area.
Businesses and residents around Bodija, Ikolaba, and Awolowo were said to have quickly locked their shops and doors as some who were about to open for the day’s business turned back.
Sequel to this, the state Commissioner of Police, Hazmat Adebola, detailed a highly powered investigation team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident as well as expand the network of arresting through painstaking intelligence-driven investigation.
Operatives of the state security network codenamed Amotekun were also said to have been on the ground.
A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso in Ibadan, said the suspects were dressed in military camouflage.
Osifeso added that the suspects were armed with cutlasses, pump action rifles, cartridges, assorted charms and an O’dua nation agitation flag.
The statement read, “Today, Saturday 13/04/2024 at about 0915hrs, the valiant and eagle-eyed operatives of the state police command in concert with some members of its sister agencies, successfully thwarted an attempt by hoodlums suspected to be members of the ‘’Yoruba Nation Agitation Group’ driven by a separatist agenda, in an attempt to forcefully take over the State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
“The suspects, who were in military camouflages came heavily armed in an unregistered silver-coloured Nissan urban caravan bus containing cutlasses, pump action rifles, cartridges, assorted charms and an O’dua nation agitation flag.
“They were overpowered and completely suppressed by officers and men of the command in concert with sister security agencies who acted in swift response to intelligence gathered in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure to the situation.
“In all, 20 suspects have been arrested in possession of three Pump Action Guns, 291 life cartridges, two expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses, five bulletproof vests, six pairs of boots, 10 megaphones (Public Address System), three Oodua styles beret caps, seven belts, 11 Oodua nation Army camouflage uniforms, one unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan Bus and three TVS motor motorcycles”.
He described their action as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony & terrorism which would be melted with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land.
Osifeso assured the public of the command’s unwavering protection of their lives and property.
He, therefore, urged the residents to be generous with information and cooperate with the command to rid the state of criminal elements whose intent was to propagate their separatist agenda.
The PPRO also assured that more updates would be provided accordingly.
