THE Oyo State Police Command, on Sunday, confirmed the arrest of five Yoruba Nation agitators who had earlier invaded and hijacked the Radio Nigeria, Amuludun FM 99.1 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The suspects were Noah Atoyebi, 30 years; Gbenga Adeleke, 25 years; Abdulganiyu Mustafa, 35 years; Fajola Elija, 45 years and a woman, Kehinde Bashiru.
The PUNCH Metro reports that 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.