* Over attempt to overrun Oyo govt secretariat, State Assembly
* Defiant group claims Interim Govt in South West region
The police in Oyo State, on Wednesday, arraigned 29 suspected Yoruba Nation agitators before the Chief Magistrate Court in Ibadan, 0ver their involvement in the aborted invasion of the Governor’s Office and the House of Assembly, on April 13, 2024.
The Investigative Police Officer (IPO), Bakare Rasaq, an Inspector at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, said the Police command acted in line with its promise to ensure the arrested invaders of the Oyo State Government Secretariat are duly prosecuted by charging them to court.
The case, with charge number Mi/520c/2024, is between the Commissioner of Police vs the 29 suspects.
They were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of a firearm, going armed and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
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.
Also, the police have confirmed the arrest of eight more persons in addition to the 21 paraded on Monday, April 15, bringing to 29, the total number of suspects so far arrested.
Last Saturday, some armed men had breached the peace around Agodi environs when they attempted to take over the government seat of power at the secretariat Ibadan.
Earlier, some members of the group threatened to wreak more havoc if their members arrested during the invasion are not released immediately.
The group further declared that there is currently an interim government in the South West region of the country.
The Deputy Coordinator of the group, Victor Adewale, who made the threat while reacting to the police parade of the suspects at the State Police Command on Tuesday, said if their members are not released, the country will witness more havoc.
Adewale, who gave the warning through a statement, also warned President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, to be ready to bear the brunt of their anger if they fail to order the release of the arrested agitators.
“If Seyi Makinde refuses to release our men that were arrested and makes them sleep in the cell, he has called for war and Bola Tinubu will be greatly affected. The way we will ravage, you won’t all understand,” the statement said.
“I’m directed to warn you for the last time. Governor Makinde must release our warriors he arrested at the secretariat in Ibadan.
“He must release them immediately, he should return them to the secretariat, let them be doing their own there and we should be doing ours.
“If he continues to hold them, wherever you are; you will be rooted out. Our proclamation letters are with them. Tinubu, Tunji Disu, Makinde and all Amotekun in Yoruba land and the police, you must release those guys immediately.”
The group also threatened to wage a war against constituted authorities to press home their demand for an Independent Yoruba nation to be created out of present day Nigeria.
“War is coming and I want to implore Yoruba people to go out en masse to protest. However, whether you like it or not, we have an interim government now for Yoruba Nation,” the group insisted.