A community-advocacy body, the Oyo Global Forum (OGF) has condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the Saturday invasion of Oyo State Government Secretariat and House of Assembly Complex in Ibadan by an armed group purportedly seeking the secession of Yoruba land from Nigeria.
The OGF, in a statement on Sunday and co-signed by its Chairman, Taiwo Adebayo, and Public Relations Officer, Mojeed Agboola, noted that the style of the invasion and use of military camouflage with badges indicated that the perpetrators had organised the invasion without detection.
OGF said,” the style of the invasion and the use of military camouflage with badges suggest they had been organising without detection and preemptive actions. This calls for the need to enhance intelligence gathering and use capabilities of our security and intelligence system.”
It however commended the effective interagency collaboration, involving the army, police, Amotekun, and government security advisors that led to the foiling of the attack and the arrest of the armed people.
The OGF further warned whatever group against any action that could resort in disrupting the peace and stability already being enjoyed in the state.
While affirming the principle permitting freedom of expression and fundamental rights, the group emphasized that nobody should resort to violence in pursuit of any agenda.
“Freedoms of expression and association remain fundamental rights in the country, but nobody should resort to violence in pursuit of any agenda,” the statement said.
The OGF then called on the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the security establishment “to ensure a thorough investigation that would not only lead to lawful consequences, but also help counter such violent tendencies moving forward.”
LEADERSHIP recalls that armed persons who called themselves Yoruba Nation agitators, on Saturday, stormed the Oyo State Secretariat, during which they attempted a takeover of the State Assembly Complex but they were, however, repelled by a combined team of security agents.
No less than three persons are feared to have been killed in the encounter with about nine other persons arrested and being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ibadan, the state capital.