By Pathfinder Reporter
Tuesday April 16, 2024
Please, share this story:
The Nigeria Police Force on Monday claimed that it has launched a manhunt for arrest of Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, a suspected sponsor of the invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Ibadan by some Yoruba Nation agitators.
Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola, a widow of the business mogul and prominent politician, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, had claimed responsibility as the sponsor of the Yoruba Nation Agitator members in her broadcast in a viral video.
Recall that Prof. Banji Akintoye, who is the leader of another Yoruba group along with Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho), in a statement on Saturday in which he dissociated his group from the action, claimed that the group was led by Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola.
The agitators on Saturday morning, wielding guns and other weapons, many of them wearing military camouflage, invaded the Oyo State House of Assembly complex located inside the secretariat and hoisted their flag.
They also attempted to breach the security of the governor’s office, before they were repelled by security operatives.
Later a viral video by Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola claiming leadership of the group surfaced on social media.
The Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr Adebola Hamzat on Monday paraded 21 suspects with arms, ammunition, camouflage and other items recovered from them.
The CP described the invasion as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism and would be treated as such.
Explaining how it happened on Saturday, the police chief said: “At about 8:55 a.m., information was received that some men, dressed in military-like camouflage and armed with pump action semi-automatic rifles, were sighted on motorcycles around Olomi and moving into Ibadan.
“At about 9:15 a.m., the hoodlums, later known as Yoruba Nation Agitation Group, were trailed to the State Secretariat and the premises of the Governor’s Office.
“They hoisted their flag at the House of Assembly, proclaiming the creation of a ‘Democratic Republic of the Yoruba’.
“With police reinforcement, the miscreants were warned to disperse. The agitators turned violent and opened fire on the police and a detachment of Amotekun Corps present.”
The commissioner said the police responded and were joined by operatives of other security agencies who suppressed the treason.
He also said that five pump action semi-automatic rifles, two wooden double barrel guns and other exhibits were recovered from the agitators.
Also recovered were two jackets, 30 pieces of torch lights, 49 bells, five horse whips, seven pieces of walkie-talkies and accessories, four generators, 72 pairs of camouflage uniforms and 405 live cartridges.
He said the continued existence of Nigeria as a sovereign, indivisible entity is a task that must be accomplished, adding that “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain”.
He said Oyo State Police Command would be unrelenting in ensuring the unity of the country.
Hamzat said: “As a parent, I enjoin other parents, guardians and leaders in every sphere of political, religious and socio-economic influence to prevail on their children, ward, protégés and followers against being used by unpatriotic individuals to promote anarchy in the state and by extension, the nation.
“Oyo State is home to many responsible, hospitable and extremely intelligent individuals who pride themselves with creativity, hard work and resourcefulness.
“Under my watch, it would not be reduced to a playground for the criminally minded and obviously misguided individuals or groups who intend to make their livelihood from distorting the relative tranquillity enjoyed by the good people of the state.”
The commissioner said the arrested suspects have been listing the names of their sponsors, adding that the police had visited some locations within Oyo State where some incriminating items were recovered.
Hamzat recalled that a member of the Amotekun Corps was injured during the invasion and one of the agitators who resisted arrest got injured in a gun duel with the police.
He clarified that police were not aware of any death during the incident.
Fatai Owoseni
Reacting to the incident,the Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Security, Fatai Owoseni, said Onitiri-Abiola is the leader of another separatist group.
Owoseni, who spoke on national television, said the woman has been there for more than three decades.
“She has spoken out at one time or another. This confirms the proliferation of separatist groups I talked about.
Owoseni, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, said the Federal Government was already concerned about the security situation in the country and working to address the concerns.
And to prevent similar occurrence, Owoseni said there was a need to rejig the nation’s security architecture, adding that political leaders should make conscious efforts to engage the youths on values, showcasing good role models.
Invaders met superior powers, says Makinde
When the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Second Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Obinna Onubogu, visited Governor Makinde in his office on the incident, Makinde
thanked the security operatives for their promptness when the response procedure was activated, noting that it quickly stemmed the incident in the quickest possible time.
Makinde said: “On Saturday, the emergency security response procured was activated and it actually worked. There are gaps really, but the response was quick.
“The hoodlums met what was beyond their imagination and within an hour, everything was under control.
“I on behalf of the Oyo State Government and people of the state thank all security agencies, including the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Service (DSS), Nigerian Army, Operation Burst, Amotekun and others as everyone responded timely.”
“We are indeed grateful for the timely response as it helped to calm the situation within a short time. Most of the things we have been doing jointly with the 2Div will continue.
“I appeal to the Chief of Army Staff to allow their personnel to have more time to work in their posts so that the leaders would not work with new people now and then.
” I had worked with five GOCs within the last five years of my administration, and many more may still be posted to this state before the expiration of my tenure.
“We must win the war, but we must also win the peace. It is a challenging period that anyone in the position of leadership, either military or political, even community leadership, is challenged at this time.”
General Onubogu described the invasion as unfortunate, despite the peace in the state.
He assured that the Nigerian Army would play its part to ensure that such a thing never repeated itself.
He also promised a synergy among the security agencies in line with the directive and policy of the Chief of Army Staff, noting that such collaboration would go a long way to guarantee better security.
While soliciting support for the Army, the GOC said he had been briefed on the numerous support the state government has been providing for the Army in the state.
Woman suspect
One of the suspects paraded, Ayanwale Rofiat explained that she joined the agitators because she was promised a better life to end hunger in her life by the sponsors of the invasion.
Speaking while being paraded, Rofiat said: “I’m from Igbo Ora in the Ibarapa zone of the state. The sponsors promised me and my entire family that they would empower us and that our future would be assured. Starvation would no longer be in our lives and that cost of living would automatically come down.”
She explained where they got the foreign military camouflage from saying, “The Army camouflage attire on me was given to me and other members when we converged on Ibadan before moving to the Secretariat.”
Another suspect, Mr Alabi Ogundeji, who is a 55-year-old lecturer at a Federal College of Education, said the membership of the Yoruba movement is spread across all Yoruba-speaking states.
Ogundeji said: “Our leaders went to all Yoruba-speaking states to serve officials letters written and we were given our copies.
“Then the proclamation was made and after the declaration, occupation, and notification to the world that Yoruba is an indigenous nation.”
We don’t regret ouractions—Defiant suspects
On his part, a 29-year-old phone repairer, Ademola Adeniyi, was defiant saying he didn’t regret his action.
Adeniyi said: “We all know that nothing is working in Nigeria and things are hard for everyone except those in government, we were at the Secretariat waiting for our leader to come and address us.
“We believe our leader knows much about the law and so we are not afraid to join when we were called upon. Our leaders told us that all challenges Yoruba are facing shall be addressed if we achieve our aim.”
Also, a septuagenarian, who was among the suspects, Mr Peter Adeyemo, had denied being a member noting that, he and his daughter went to Itamerin Market to buy some items and on their way back, they saw people gathered and inquired from a policeman, but was later rough-handled and arrested.
On the charms and amulets found on his body, Adeyemo, a furniture carpenter from Iwere Ile in the Ibarapa zone of Oyo State, admitted that he and his daughter were given some insignias including a flag found in possession of the daughter.
We are here to serve you with quality news and information.
However, your donations, reactions and advert placement are welcome.
Contact us on 08033783144 (WhatsApp)
08023469999
idowuadelusi@yahoo.com, idowuadelusi@gmail.com,
thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi and Facebook.