Oyo govt demolishes Yoruba Nation agitators’ building
The government of Oyo State has demolished a structure in Ibadan, housing the operational base of the Yoruba Nation self-determination group headed by Modupe Onitiri-Abiola.
The structure located at Toye Oyesola Street in the Ibadan South West local government area was taken down on Wednesday evening.
Onitiri-Abiola is one of the widows of late touted winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential poll, Chief MKO Abiola.
The demolition is coming after 29 members of the group were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court over their involvement and roles in the failed invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Saturday, April 13.
They were arraigned on a seven-count charge bothering on treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of a firearm, going armed and behavior likely to cause a breach of peace.
The case, with charge number Mi/520c/2024, is between the Commissioner of Police vs the 29 suspects.
The offences, according to the Investigative Police Officer, Bakare Rasaq, an Inspector with the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan is contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminak Code, Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
According to him, the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
Recall that there was palpable tension in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State on Saturday, when masked agitators in military fatigue stormed the government facilities and positioned themselves at strategic locations, in an attempt to hoist their own flags.
The security operatives on duty at the secretariat were shocked as they were unable to disperse the agitators until the arrival of police operatives from the state command and other anti-crime agencies in collaboration with members of the Nigerian Army, 2 Division, who later demobilised the raging agitators
Those arrested were on Monday, April 15, paraded by the police with the arms, ammunition, camouflage and other items recovered from them.
Oyo State police commissioner, Adebola Hamzat, who paraded the suspects, described the invasion as a criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism, which would be meted with adequate sanctions.