Yoruba Nation agitators invade Oyo Secretariat, 20 arrested

Some suspected Yoruba Nation agitators yesterday invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, located at Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital. The incident compelled businesses and residents within that axis, including Bodija, Ikolaba and Awolowo Avenue to stay within houses and keep their shops under lock and key.

Also, eyewitnesses revealed that the masked men were stationed at different locations within the area, sending panic to the residents and road users along the routes.

The security operatives manning the state secretariat found it difficult to disperse the agitators until the arrival of the policemen who doused the tension after succeeding in chasing them away.

The agitators, dressed in camouflage uniform, engaged in fierce gun duel with the local Amotekun, the police and the Operation Burst personnel before they were eventually overpowered.

According to an eyewitness account, they had already taken over the assembly complex premises and hoisted their flag before the arrival of backup security personnel.

The policemen were assisted by other anti-crime agencies, in conjunction with members of the Nigerian Army, 2 Division.

Operatives of the state security network codenamed Amotekun were also said to have been on ground.

Motorists and other road users were gripped with fear as they scampered for safety, plunging the routes along Customs Junction and the Secretariat-Queen Elizabeth Road into heavy traffic.

Recall that a similar incident occurred in May last year when suspected Yoruba Nation agitators attacked Amuludun FM, Moniya, Ibadan. They seized the studio before security operatives arrived to check them.

The national leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua, Banji Akintoye, had since distanced himself and the group from the attackers and their operation.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State police command has confirmed the arrest of 20 gun-wielding men suspected to be members of the Yoruba Nation group following an onslaught on the Oyo State House of Assembly complex.

The police public relations officer, Oyo State command, Adewale Osifeso, noted that the commissioner of police in the state had detailed a high-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 make more arrests.”

He said the command arrested the suspects in possession of three pump action guns, 291 life cartridges, two expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses, five bulletproof vests, six pairs of boots, 10 megaphones, three Oodua styles beret caps, seven belts, 11 O’odua Nation Army Camouflage uniforms, one unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan bus and three TVS motorcycles.