Security operatives have arrested 20 suspected Yoruba Nation agitators.
They were arrested on Saturday for invading Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital.
Some Yoruba Nation agitators had, earlier on Saturday morning, stormed the Secretariat and took over some parts of the area.
Some ammunition, weapons, and ATMS were also recovered from the suspects.
The Oyo State police command spokesman Osifeso Adewale said in a statement, “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 bulletproof 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,”.
Police personnel stated that the invaders are suspected members of the Yoruba Nation agitators.
The invaders who arrived at the place in buses had attempted to enter the Governor’s Office during the siege but the gallantry of security operatives frustrated that plot.
They wore masks and scarves and hoisted a flag – suspected to be that of the agitators – in the area during the early morning attack.
The police said, “The suspects, who were on military camouflages came heavily armed in an unregistered silver coloured Nissan Urban Caravan bus containing cutlasses, pump action rifles, cartridges, assorted charms, and an Oodua nation agitation flag,”.
Witnesses said gunshots were heard following an exchange of fire between them and security agents.
In the wake of the invasion, a combined team of security operatives including soldiers took over the area, blocking entry and exit points to the Oyo State Government Secretariat. Traffic was thereafter diverted from the place.
But the police said investigations have been launched into the matter. The team leading it includes the “Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department”.
The State Police Command in Eleyele, Ibadan, have taken the suspects for further questioning.
Government of Oyo State, has not commented on the matter so far.
