*I Don’t Regret Action, Arrested Agitators Declare

*Invasion Act Of Terrorism, Says Commissioner 

*Police Launch Manhunt For Abiola’s Widow

OYO State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for keeping the peace in the state, especially thwarting the attempt by some armed Yoruba Nation agitators, wearing masks and military uniforms and armed with rifles and charms, to take over the State Secretariat and House of Assembly complex on Saturday, April 13, and tried to hoist the Yoruba Nation flag.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Suleiman Olanrewaju, the governor stated this while receiving the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Mechanised Division, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan, Maj- Gen. Obinna Onubogu, at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital.

Makinde explained how the effective security system in the state was able to bring the aggressors to their knees in no time, after they were overpowered by security agencies, with 21 of them arrested and paraded by the Police on Monday, April 15, in Ibadan.

The governor commended security agencies for their prompt response, noting: “On what happened on Saturday, the emergency security response was activated and it actually worked. The response was quick and timely and I believe the hoodlums and miscreants met something that was beyond their imagination. Within one hour, everything was under control.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank you and other security agencies in the state. Everybody responded timely and we are grateful for the timely response.   

“Concerning the unfortunate incident, what I can say is that we must win the war, but we must also win peace. It is a challenging period.

“Anybody in the position of authority in this country, whether military, political or governmental positions, even people leading in our communities, are challenged at this time, because as a leader, if people you are leading are hungry and angry, we have to put heads together and see how we can minimise some of those causative agents of this type of situation.”

He urged the new GOC to sustain the cordial relationship between the Division and government on the one hand and between the Division and the people of the state on the other.

Earlier, Onubogu said the warm reception accorded him showed the cordial relationship that had always existed between the state government and the Nigerian Army.

“We are indeed in a period of security challenges and I want to commiserate with you and the people of the state over the invasion of the secretariat on April 13.

“This incident is unfortunate, as it shows that despite the peace that exists in the state, there are still sons and daughters who are bent on challenging the state, the entire Southwest, as well as Nigeria as a whole.

“I have taken note of some of the gaps that preceded this incident and I want to assure you that under my watch, we will play our part to ensure that such a situation does not arise again,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the arrested Yoruba Nation agitators, 55-year-old Alabi Ogundeji, showed no remorse, saying he does not regret his action.

Similarly, 29-year-old phone repairer, Ademola Adeniyi, who was part of the arrested agitators, bears no regret joining the agitation.

They were among the over 20 suspects arrested by the Police after their invasion of government offices.

 The two suspects told journalists during their parade before the public at the state Police Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, that their actions were lawful under Nigerian and international law.

Ogundeji enthused: “I’m part of the agitation and I can’t deny it. Yoruba as an indigenous nation is a nation on its own. We have so many nations in Nigeria and Yoruba is one of them.

“Oodua Nation leaders have taken every step and action that needed to be taken. So, we embarked on a referendum, which was 500 petitions signed by all Yorubas, and this has served as the referendum.

   “Our leadership went to all Yoruba-speaking states to serve official letters written by our leaders and we were given our copy. After that is proclamation, declaration, occupation and notification to the world that Yoruba is an indigenous nation.

“We were at the Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, to celebrate and rejoice because of the new nation that was born. It is not a new thing that Yoruba is a nation and we want to stand on our own. We have been together with Nigeria for over 100 years.

Adeniyi added: “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 address us.

“We believe our leader knows much about the law, so we are not afraid to join when we are called upon. Our leader told us that all challenges the Yoruba are facing shall be addressed if we achieve our aim.”

    While parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Hamzat Adebola, described the act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism, which would be met with adequate sanctions.

He explained that 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.

“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.

   “I would like to use this medium to remind the criminally-minded that the state is home to many responsible, hospitable and extremely intelligent individuals who pride themselves on creativity, hardwork and resourcefulness.”

Adebola warned that Oyo State under his watch would not be reduced to a playground for the criminally- minded and misguided individuals or groups intent on making their livelihood by distorting the relative tranquility enjoyed by the people of the state.

The state government had on Monday described invasion as an act of terrorism. Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, while condemning the action, told journalists in Ibadan that there were better ways of agitation other than bloodletting.

The commissioner noted: “Sponsors of the invasion have succeeded in landing themselves in serious trouble.

Attempting to barge into the hallowed chambers of the legislature and take it over with an arsenal of seven pump action submachine guns and over 700 live cartridges is an act of terrorism.

“Oyo State remains the most peaceful state in Nigeria and Saturday’s incident will not take away that popular belief.”

Normalcy has since returned to Ibadan, the state capital and residents are going about their normal duties.

Special Adviser on Security Matters to the governor, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the invaders were miscreants who probably acted under the influence of substances. 

    Speaking on a television programme on Monday, April 15, Owoseni, a former commissioner of Police in Lagos State, described the arrested agitators as “miscreants that seem to be on some kind of cheap drugs.”

He disclosed that some of the agitators’ hideouts have been uncovered, assuring that government would tame all those involved in the self-determination movement, adding: “When you have such a movement of people who have been brainwashed and promised heaven.

“From little interrogation, some of them said there is a proclamation that the Yoruba nation has gained independence. We must own up to it that in the country, there is proliferation of different armed groups. Some are under the guise of private security guards. So, it is a cumulation of what has been happening in the country that has not been checked.

“So many other things have happened after this, areas which were discovered to be their cells, where they are doing things have been burst. More recoveries and   arrests have been made. More revelations have come out. 

   “The state has the capacity to get around this and we are not relenting. We will continue to do what we do covertly to ensure these people are tamed and that they don’t use this place as a launchpad.”

Meanwhile, the Police have launched a manhunt for a suspected sponsor of the invasion, Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, a widow of the late businessman and politician, Chief MKO Abiola, following her broadcast in a viral video claiming responsibility for the action sent panic in the Southwest states.

Prominent Yoruba Nation agitators, Prof. Banji Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) have since dissociated themselves or their groups from the action.