Segun Atanda & Agency Report/
At least two of the suspected Yoruba nation agitators who allegedly invaded the Oyo State government secretariat, in Ibadan, today were shot dead by security operatives.
The masked invaders reportedly barricaded the state’s House of Assembly complex located inside the secretariat and hoisted the Yoruba Nation flag in the premises.
Police authorities in the state also confirmed the arrest of 20 suspects in connection with the alleged invasion. They were however silent on the casualties.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a group of persons allegedly invaded the complex located at the Government Secretariat vicinity in an attempt to take it over.
Police spokesman in Oyo State, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the arrest of the suspects in a statement he issued in Ibadan.
Mr Osifeso stated that the 20 suspects arrested had in their possession three pump action guns, 29 live cartridges, two expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses, five bulletproof vests and six pairs of boots,
They also had in their possession, 10 Public Address Systems, three berets with Oodua insignia crafted on them, seven belts, 11 Oodua Nation camouflage uniforms, one unregistered bus and three motorcycles, he added.
He stressed that the police, in collaboration with sister security agencies successfully thwarted the attempt by the agitators to forcefully take over the secretariat.
“The suspects who wore military camouflage came heavily armed in an unregistered bus and had cutlasses, pump action rifles, cartridges, assorted charms and an Oodua Nation agitation flag with them.
“They were overpowered and completely suppressed by officers and men of the police in concert with those of sister security agencies,’’ he stated.
He described the act of the suspects as criminal and unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism.
He assured that appropriate punishment would be meted to those found culpable, while the police would continue to protect law-abiding citizens.
The spokesman stated that the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Adebola Hamzat, already ordered an investigation and an enlargement of the dragnet to arrest others connected with the incident.
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