Photo caption: Soldiers arrest nine Yoruba Nation agitators
Oyo State Police Command, on Saturday, said it had arrested 20 suspected Yoruba Nation agitators who invaded the State Government Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital.
Sequel to this, the state Commissioner of Police, Hazmat Adebola, detailed an investigation team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident and expand the network of arresting culprits through painstaking intelligence-driven inquiry.
Sunday PUNCH reports that scores of agitators had early on Saturday stormed the Secretariat in army camouflage and armed with dangerous weapons and charms.
A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in Ibadan, 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 on military camouflages came heavily armed in an unregistered silver-coloured Nissan Urban 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 bullet proof vests, six pair of boots, 10 megaphone (public address system), three Oodua style beret caps, seven belts, 11 Oodua Nation army camouflage attire, one unregistered Nissan Urban bus and three TVS motor motorcycles.”
While declaring this act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism which would be met with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land, Osifeso assured the good citizens of the state that the command remained unwavering to the protection of their lives and property.
He, therefore, urged the residents to be generous with information and cooperate with the command in a bid to rid the state of criminal elements whose intent was to propagate their separatist agenda.
The PPRO also promised that more updates would be provided accordingly.
