Suspected agitators of Oodua Nation, at the early hours of Sunday 28th May, 2023, were on rampage and hijacked Radio Nigeria Amuludun FM, Moniya, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Report says the suspected agitators, who were about twenty, stormed the station with loads of charms at half past five in the morning and hijacked the live studio, while a sponsored programme was ongoing and commenced live broadcast of their programme.
Among their claims included “Oodua Nation has come to stay” “Yoruba no more under Federal Republic of Nigeria” “United Nations will soon declare Oodua Nation” among others things.
They broadcast for about an hour before the arrival of combined teams of police, operation burst and Nigerian Army were able to recover the station from the agitators, while five suspects were arrested and taken to the Oyo State Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan for interrogation.
However, five out of the agitators, among whom was a woman, were arrested by the police with the assistance of the Nigerian army, while others ran into different directions to evade arrest.
One of the arrested agitators, who sustained gunshot wounds, had rushed into the studio to tell others that security operatives had taken over the nooks and crannies of the station. The blood stain was seen in the studio.
An investigation by our correspondent revealed that after holding some night duty staff and security guards hostage, the agitators hijacked the studio and announced live on radio “Welcome to Yoruba Nation.”
An impeccable source further said they continued threatening staff members to remove all Nigeria flags in the station and replace them with Yoruba Nation flags as they have already taken over the Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Confirming the incident, General Manager of the station, Mr. Stephen Agbaje, said Security Operatives have restored normalcy to the station and that Amuludun 99.1 FM has resumed live broadcast of programmes.
Meanwhile, security operatives are on ground to maintain peace and some of them have been apprehended.
PRESS BRIEFING FOR TODAY SUNDAY 28/05/2023 AT THE OYO STATE POLICE COMMAND, ELEYELE IBADAN.
RE: FOILED ATTEMPT AT TAKING OVER RADIO NIGERIA, AMULUDUN 99.1FM, MONIYA, IBADAN BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE SEPARATIST YORUBA NATION GROUP.
1.The Oyo State Police Command remains unwavering and committed to the statutory constitutional requirements of protecting lives and property and as well preserving law and order even as the State and indeed Nation gears up towards the Monday 29/05/2023 Inauguration Ceremony for its Elected leaders.
- This is In line with the express directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM,NEAPS,fdc,CFR towards a successful outing and beyond, hence the security architecture of the State, just like in other Commands has been beefed-up to comprehensively tackle any evolving or emerging security challenge which could pose a threat to the Nation’s Stability.
- Preliminary Investigations about today’s incident revealed that today being Sunday 28/05/2023 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.
4.Thankfully no personnel from the establishment or any other persons were 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 concert with relevant Sister Agencies has been strategically modified for optimum effectiveness not only for tomorrow’s epoch making ceremony but beyond.
7.So also, Parents, guardians and leaders wielding various degrees of influence are advised to prevail on their Children,wards and proteges against being used to distrupt tomorrow’s event as heavy sanctions await defaulters and other unpatriotic elements sharing the same sinister motives.
8.This far, the following Suspects in posession of various criminal charms were arrested in connection with the incident. They include;
- Noah Atoyebi ‘M’ 30yrs
- Gbenga Adeleke ‘M’ 25yrs
3.Abdulganiyu Mustafa Kolawole ‘M’ 35yrs
4.Bashiru Kehinde O. ‘F’
- Fajola Elija ‘M’ 45yrs
- The Oyo State Police Command enjoins residents to be generous with information and cooporate with the Command in a bid to rid the State off Criminal elements with the intent to propagate their separatist agenda.
- In cases of emergencies, the Command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615(Tell free) (Oyo State Security Trust Fund), and Oyo State Police Command Emergency lines 07055495413 and 08081768614.
E-SIGNED
SP OSIFESO ADEWALE mnipr
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
OYO STATE COMMAND
FOR:
THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, OYO STATE POLICE COMMAND.
