IGBOHO REACTS AS SUSPECTED YORUBA NATION AGITATORS INVADE OYO STATE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE (Watch Videos)

The 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, has 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.

Early on Saturday scores of agitators stormed the State 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 were 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 Urvan bus and three TVS motorcycles.”

It was further learnt that the security operatives on duty at the secretariat were shocked as they were unable to disperse the agitators until the arrival of policemen from the state command and other anti-crime agencies in conjunction with members of the Nigerian Army, 2 Division, who demobilised them.

However, the leader of Yoruba Self Determination group, Professor Banji Akintoye and Yoruba Nation Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho have distanced themselves from the group of agitators that invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan on  Saturday.

The duo said they were not aware or in support of the agitators and their actions.

Akintoye said those involved were not fighting for Yoruba interests but against the Yorubas in their conducts.

He said available information indicated the group appointed an interim government for the Yoruba Nation and decided to take over the region from the Oyo State secretariat, which informed the deployment of men in military camouflage.

Prof Akintoye said: ” I learnt they are engaged in some sort of insanity in Ibadan but that is entirely they, and it has nothing to do with me or people like Chief Sunday Igboho who are working with me.”

While declaring the 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.