At least 18 suspected agitators of the Yoruba Nation who attempted to seize Oyo House of Assembly located a few metres away from Oyo State Government Secretariat, yesterday, were arrested by the police.
Reports say, masked men dressed in Army camouflage and armed with rifles, occupied strategic points in the Secretariat.
While some of them manned the entrance of the Governor’s Office, the rest were reportedly seen at the entrance to the state House of Assembly’s gate and the main entrance.
The situation sent shock waves across the entire area as security operatives on duty at the Secretariat fired tear gas canisters to disperse them while some of them were arrested.
Operatives of the state Police Command and other anti-crime agencies stormed the Secretariat in numerous patrol vans. Sporadic gunshots rent the air sending panic to residents around the axis.
Motorists plying the route made a detour as other road users scampered to safety. On the other hand, road users en route to the Secretariat were diverted along Customs Junction as the Secretariat-Queen Elizabeth Road was cut off to traffic.
It was gathered that efforts of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (retd), to calm the situation upon sighting the masked men were futile as they insisted on hoisting their flag in the Secretariat.
The arrival of soldiers from 2 Division of the Nigerian Army about an hour later changed the narrative as they stormed the vicinity with some of the agitators at the entrance gate taking to their heels. The stern-looking officers were said to have gone after the masked agitators.
Main entrance of the state Secretariat had been shut. Shop owners, businesses and residents around Bodija, Ikolaba, en route to Awolowo, were said to have quickly locked up their shops as some who were about to open for the day’s business turned back.
In the same vein, a middle-aged woman, Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, who introduced herself as widow of late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election in a video, who purportedly spoke on the incident, said she was speaking on behalf of someone.
Speaking in Yoruba in a white blouse and a white headgear, she said: “He is a youth. How many people will want to dare what he’s trying to do? And he has made the sacrifice that he would do it. He said he would never contest any election and lead as an acting head. We are organised people, we are sovereign people and we will do things accordingly. We have decided to leave Nigeria and we have left since November 2022.
“We are declaring this day that we are no longer part of this country. With the awesome power that God used to create the sky and seven clouds, moon and stars, I, Modupe Onitiri Abiola, proclaim the Democratic Republic of Yoruba. Yoruba has become a nation without any opposition. It is so, it is a declaration that God has caused to stay. Yoruba, today, April 12, 2024, begins as a sovereign nation and will operate as a country.”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed that no fewer than 18 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Osifeso 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 takeover 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 on concert with sister security agencies who acted in swift response to intelligence gathered by Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the situation.
“In all, 20 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 melted with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land, the Command assures the good citizens of Oyo State that it remains unwavering to 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 encourages 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.”