Five Yoruba Nation agitators who earlier invaded and hijacked the Radio Nigeria, Amuludun FM 99.1 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have been arrested.
The men armed with charms stormed the radio station in the very early hours of Sunday but were nabbed later in the day according to the state police command.
The suspects are Noah Atoyebi, 30 years; Gbenga Adeleke, 25 years; Abdulganiyu Mustafa, 35 years; Fajola Elija, 45 years and a woman, Kehinde Bashiru.
According to PUNCH Metro, some Yoruba Nation agitators stormed the station around 5:40 am, seized the airwaves and announced their separation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen at the command’s headquarters, Eleyele in Ibadan, the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, who was represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said, “The preliminary investigations about today (Sunday)’s incident revealed that at about 0600hrs the valiant and eagle-eyed operatives of the command while on intelligence-driven patrols intercepted a distress call about some members of a group driven by a separatist agenda who had forcefully hijacked a radio broadcast station, Amuludun 99.1 FM located around Moniya, Ibadan with the intent to declare liberation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Thankfully, no personnel from the establishment or any other person was hurt as the command responded swiftly in a well-coordinated rescue operation.
“I have personally detailed an investigation team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to demystify circumstances around the incident and as well expand the network of arrests through thorough, painstaking intelligence-driven investigation.
“While declaring this act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of terrorism which would be meted with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land, I assure good citizens of the state that the security architecture of the command in contact with relevant sister agencies has been strategically modified for optimum effectiveness not only for tomorrow’s (Monday) epoch-making ceremony but beyond.”
He, therefore, called on parents, guardians and leaders wielding various degrees of influence to prevail on their children, wards and proteges against being used to disrupt tomorrow’s event as heavy sanctions await defaulters and other unpatriotic elements sharing the same sinister motives.
On its part, the Lagos State Police Command, stated that “POLICE ARREST YORUBA NATION AGITATORS – warn subversive elements to steer clear or face the wrath of the law – assure of adequate security emplacements for inauguration ceremony The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two Yoruba Nation Agitators in the early hours of today.
The agitators, numbering fifteen, had stormed Alausa Police Division at about 0535hrs today, chanting, ‘Yoruba Nation has taken over,’ and injured some police officers who attempted to disperse them. Two of the agitators were arrested while the rest took to their heels following the prompt and coordinated response of the police.
“The suspects who were arrested with charms, dangerous weapons and different offensive insignias bearing Yoruba Nation Army, stormed Alausa Division along with others at about the same time another set of the group was attempting to take over a radio station in Ibadan, Oyo State.
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