The Oyo State Police Command is currently interrogating 20 suspects who were arrested in the aftermath of yesterday’s invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat Ibadan by armed men who called themselves Oodua Nation supporters.
Recovered from the suspects, according to the spokesperson for the command, Adewale Osifeso, a Superintendent of Police (SP), were three Pump Action guns, 291 life cartridges, two expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses and five bulletproof vests.
Other items include six pairs of boots, 10 megaphones (public address system), three Oodua beret caps, seven belts, 11 Oodua Nation Army camouflage uniforms, one unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan Bus and three TVS Motorcycles.
The police spokesman said the agitators, driven by a separatist agenda, made an attempt to forcefully take over the Oyo State Government Secretariat but their move was thwarted by officers from the Command in concert with personnel of sister security agencies.
He gave the name of the suspected hoodlums to be members of the “Yoruba Nation Agitation Group.”
The police labeled the action of the invaders, who were dressed in military camouflage, as a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism.
However, prominent Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo alias Igboho, and leader of the Yoruba Self Determination group, Prof. Banji Akintoye, distanced themselves from the actions of the invaders and their group.
They said they were neither aware nor backed the individuals behind the action.
Ibadan was momentarily gripped by tension as news of the invasion spread.
The state government however said the situation had been brought under control and asked residents to go about their normal activities.
The Police Command said the suspects would face the consequences of their action as provided by the law.
It said: “Today, Saturday 13/04/2024 at about 0915hrs the valiant and eagle eyed operatives of the Oyo 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 Oyo 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.
“Thankfully, 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 (SOP) to the situation.
“In all, (20) twenty suspects have been arrested in possession of; (3) Three Pump Action Guns, (291)Two Hundred and Ninety-One life Cartridges, (2) Two Expended Cartridges, (67) Sixty-Seven Cutlasses, (5) Five Bullet Proof Vest, (6) Six Pair of Boots, (10) Ten Megaphone (Public Address System),(3) Three Oodua Styles Beret Caps, (7) Seven Belts, (11) Eleven Oodua Nation Army Camouflage Uniforms, (1) One Unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan Bus and (3) Three TVS Motor Motorcycles.
“While declaring this act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony & terrorism which would be met with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land, the Command assures the good citizens of Oyo State that it remains unwavering in the protection of their lives and property.
“Sequel to the above, the Commissioner of Police has detailed a highly powered investigation team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to demystify circumstances surrounding the incident and as well expand the network of arrests through painstaking intelligence driven investigation.
“The Oyo State Police Command enjoins residents to be generous with information and cooperate with the Command in a bid to rid the State of Criminal elements whose intent is to propagate their separatist agenda.
“More updates would be provided accordingly. If you see something, say something and the Police will immediately do something.
“In cases of emergency, the Command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615 (Toll free) (Oyo State Security Response Center.), and Oyo State Police Command Emergency line 08081768614”
The Nigerian Army, in a separate statement on X (formerly Twitter), said: “This is to notify the general public that today Saturday 13 April 2024, sequel to the report of an attack on the State Secretariat Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State, troops promptly responded to the incident and had contact with adherents of the Yoruba Nation dressed in foreign military camouflage with berets and armed with dangerous weapons in buses and motorbikes.
“Upon encountering own troops, the Yoruba nation adherents engaged the troops in a shootout. Troops, utilising superior firepower, successfully subdued the attackers, who subsequently retreated in disarray.
“As a result of this engagement, nine members of the irredentist group were apprehended while one Semi Automatic Pump Action rifle and ammunition were recovered.
“Currently, troops are on the track of the fleeing adherents, and the situation is under control.
“We assure members of the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of the general area.
“We urge the public to remain calm and vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate security agencies.
“The safety and security of the citizenry remain a priority, as we will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace and order in the region.”
It was gathered that the gunmen drove to the secretariat in a grey Toyota Hiace bus and on two motorcycles, which have now been seized and taken to the State Police Headquarters.
About 10 of the invaders blocked the Secretariat-Total Garden Road to enable other members of the group force their way into the secretariat complex.
Those ones headed straight to the State House of Assembly premises located within the secretariat where they removed the Nigerian national flag and replaced it with their O’odua Nation flag.
However, operatives of the Amotekun Corps, who were stationed nearby as part of regular security measures by government, confronted the invaders who responded with gunshots.
The Amotekun operatives returned fire and were soon joined by more personnel from the army, police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Within minutes, the hoodlums were overpowered and arrested.
They had charms on their necks and round their waists. Some of them took to their heels once they sensed danger.
The security men were able to arrest some of the gunmen while others took to their heels and were pursued into the nearby bushes and forest.
The Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Security, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said the situation had been brought under control.
Owoseni described the gunmen as miscreants.
”There is no need to panic. Everything is under control,” he said.
Igboho, Akintoye disown agitators
Contacted yesterday for their reactions to the invasion, Igboho, who recently returned to Nigeria following his arrest and trial in Benin Republic for illegal migration, dubious connivance with immigration officers and an attempt to cause civil unrest, and Akintoye said they had no business whatsoever with the agitators.
Akintoye specifically fingered a woman (name withheld) said to be from a prominent family in Lagos as the main backer of the hoodlums.
He said the invaders, by their conduct, were not fighting for Yoruba interest but against the people.
He said information available to him suggested that the group had appointed an “interim government for the Yoruba Nation” and had chosen to install same by hosting their flag and take over the government of the region from the Oyo State secretariat.
Prof Akintoye said: “I am not connected, I have no contact and I do not know anything about the woman and her group. I don’t know what they are doing.
“I learnt they are engaged in some sort of insanity in Ibadan. It has nothing to do with me or people like Chief Sunday Igboho who are working with me.
“We are the authentic Yoruba Nation Movement. We are not connected or working with anyone to oppress the Yoruba in Nigeria.
“We are the people fighting for Yoruba nation freedom and we will win the war peacefully and in an orderly manner.
“They are not struggling for the Yoruba nation; they are struggling against the Yoruba nation. I was not aware of the situation in Ibadan until I was informed by Chief Sunday Igboho this morning.
“I am not part of it. They are not from us. It is a lunatic fringe. We in this struggle won’t act in such a manner.”
Igboho, on his part, said: “I know nothing about it. I am not even aware of those behind it. If I am going to do anything or any struggle for Yoruba Nation, you know we will inform people ahead.
“We will announce our plans and all our leaders and other stakeholders will also be involved and we will collaborate to do so.
“So, anything they are doing, whether attacking the government or military barrack or police station, I know nothing about it and I am not part of it.”