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The Oyo State Police Command announced on Saturday that it had apprehended 20 individuals suspected to be Yoruba Nation agitators.
The suspects were reportedly involved in an invasion of the State Government Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, the capital city of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hazmat Adebola, in response to this, directed an investigation team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to thoroughly investigate the incident and broaden the scope of apprehending those responsible through meticulous intelligence-driven inquiry.
A statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in Ibadan, read in part,
“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 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.
“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.
20 suspects were arrested with weapons, including 3 Pump Action Guns, 291 life cartridges, 2 expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses, 5 bulletproof vests, 6 pairs of boots, 10 megaphones, 3 Oodua style beret caps, 7 belts, 11 Oodua Nation army camouflage attire, 1 unregistered Nissan Urban bus, and 3 TVS motor motorcycles.
The police PPRo declared the act as criminal, unpatriotic, and treasonable felony, while assuring the citizens of unwavering protection of their lives and property.
Osifeso 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.
