Army Says Troops Are Tracking Fleeing Armed Agitators Who Invade Oyo State’s Seat of Power
The Nigerian Army says its troops are still tracking fleeing armed members of the Yoruba Nation Agitators, who attempted the takeover of Oyo state’s seat of power in Ibadan on Saturday.
It asked members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate security agencies.
The armed fighters dressed in military camouflage, attempted takeover of the state house of assembly and the governor’s office within the state secretariat complex.
Army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement said the agitators fired gunshots at the troops deployed to the secretariat complex to ensure restoration of order.
According to the army, the armed agitators dressed in a foreign military camouflage, with berets and armed with dangerous weapons, were transported to the scene in buses and motorcycles.
General Nwachukwu said that troops after exchanging gunfire with the agitators overwhelmed them with superior firepower, forcing them to retreat in disarray.
Read Also:
Uganda President Appoints Son as Army Chief in Major Military Shuffle
The troops pursuing them, according to them, captured nine of the agitators, one semi-automatic pump action rifle, and ammunition.
The CCII President-General, who described them as disgruntled elements, wondered why they wanted to turn Ibadan, hitherto known as a peaceful city, into a theatre of war.
One wondered whether we were in war, one wondered why these disgruntled elements wanted to turn Ibadan into a theatre of war.
We even wondered whether the tumultuous banditry being perpetrated in certain parts of the country was to be extended to Ibadan city. What an unprovoked and appalling insult.
How can that be possible in a manner that caught the people unawares? Was Ibadan part of their sinister motives? Was the apprehension persisted, and reprieve started to prevail when it was gathered that personnel of various security agencies had moved in to take control? We thank God that the aim of the urchins failed, he said.
Ajewole, therefore, commended the efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde and all the stakeholders, especially the security operatives for their prompt response to bring the situation under control.
