Operatives of Oyo State Police Command have arrested no fewer than twenty men, who claimed to be Yoruba nation agitators on Saturday when they attempted to seize the Oyo House of Assembly complex.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed no fewer than 18 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Osifeso stated that the suspects who dressed in military camouflage on 13/04/2024 at about 09:15hrs stormed the state government Secretariat to forcefully take over.
They disclosed that items recovered from the suspects include an unregistered Silver-coloured Nissan Urban Caravan Bus containing cutlasses, pump action rifles, cartridges, assorted charms and an O’dua Nation agitation flag.
Motorcycles and other items were recovered, including three Pump Action Guns, 291 life Cartridges, two expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses, five bulletproof vests, six pairs of boots, 10 megaphones, three Oodua style beret caps, seven belts, 11 Oodua Nation Army Camouflage Uniforms, one unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan Bus and three TVS motorcycles.
“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 in 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 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.”
SP Osifeso however added that more updates would be provided accordingly in due time while urging the Oyo public to speak up promptly anything suspicious activities were detected around them to help the Police act swiftly and accordingly.