Yoruba Nation: Police hunt down Abiola’s widow for instigating Oyo invasion  

Police have launched a manhunt for Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, a suspected sponsor of the invasion of the Oyo State government Secretariat in Ibadan by some Yoruba Nation agitators.

The manhunt for Onitiri Abiola, a widow of the business mogul and prominent politician, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, began after the emergence of a viral video in which she claimed responsibility for the failed coup on Saturday, April 13.

Recall that there was palpable tension in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State on Saturday, when masked men 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

Over nine of the agitators according to a statement by spokesman of the Nigerian army, General Onyema Nwachukwu were arrested

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 21 suspects, described the invasion as a criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism, which would be meted with adequate sanctions.

Although he did not mention the name of Mrs Onitiri-Abiola, Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Security Matters, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said he was aware that she is leading a group of Yoruba Nation agitators.

Owoseni, in a televised statement, acknowledged Mrs Onitiri-Abiola’s longstanding involvement in separatist movements and highlighted the need for security reform and youth engagement to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Prof. Banji Akintoye, who is the leader of another Yoruba group along with Sunday “Igboho” Adeyemo, in a statement on Saturday dissociated his group from the action.

He alluded to the group as the one led by Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola.

Subsequently, a viral video by Mrs Onitiri-Abiola claiming leadership of the group surfaced on social media.

The Oyo State Police 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.

The commissioner urged parents and leaders to discourage their wards from engaging in activities that threaten public order, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to safeguard the state and nation.