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Ibadan: 20 Held As Yoruba Nation Agitators Invade Oyo Secretariat
The Oyo State Police Command is currently interrogating 20 suspects who were arrested in the aftermath of yesterday’s invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat Ibadan by armed men who called themselves Oodua Nation supporters.
Recovered from the suspects, according to the spokesperson for the command, Adewale Osifeso, a Superintendent of Police (SP), were three Pump Action guns, 291 life cartridges, two expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses and five bulletproof vests.
Other items include six pairs of boots, 10 megaphones (public address system), three Oodua beret caps, seven belts, 11 Oodua Nation Army camouflage uniforms, one unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan Bus and three TVS Motorcycles.
The police spokesman said the agitators, driven by a separatist agenda, made an attempt to forcefully take over the Oyo State Government Secretariat but their move was thwarted by officers from the Command in concert with personnel of sister security agencies.
He gave the name of the suspected hoodlums to be members of the “Yoruba Nation Agitation Group.”
The police labeled the action of the invaders, who were dressed in military camouflage, as a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism.
However, prominent Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo alias Igboho, and leader of the Yoruba Self Determination group, Prof. Banji Akintoye, distanced themselves from the actions of the invaders and their group.
They said they were neither aware nor backed the individuals behind the action.
Ibadan was momentarily gripped by tension as news of the invasion spread.
The state government however said the situation had been brought under control and asked residents to go about their normal activities.
The Police Command said the suspects would face the consequences of their action as provided by the law.
It said: “Today, Saturday 13/04/2024 at about 0915hrs the valiant and eagle eyed operatives of the Oyo State Police Command in concert with some members of its sister agencies, successfully thwarted an attempt by hoodlums suspected to be members of the ‘Yoruba Nation Agitation Group’ driven by a separatist agenda in an attempt to forcefully take over the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi-Ibadan.
“The suspects, who were in military camouflages, came heavily armed in an unregistered silver-coloured Nissan Urban Caravan bus containing cutlasses, pump action rifles, cartridges, assorted charms and an O’dua Nation agitation flag.
“Thankfully, they were overpowered and completely suppressed by officers and men of the Command in concert with sister security agencies who acted in swift response to intelligence gathered in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the situation.
“In all, (20) twenty suspects have been arrested in possession of; (3) Three Pump Action Guns, (291)Two Hundred and Ninety-One life Cartridges, (2) Two Expended Cartridges, (67) Sixty-Seven Cutlasses, (5) Five Bullet Proof Vest, (6) Six Pair of Boots, (10) Ten Megaphone (Public Address System),(3) Three Oodua Styles Beret Caps, (7) Seven Belts, (11) Eleven Oodua Nation Army Camouflage Uniforms, (1) One Unregistered Nissan Urban Caravan Bus and (3) Three TVS Motor Motorcycles.
“While declaring this act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony & terrorism which would be met with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land, the Command assures the good citizens of Oyo State that it remains unwavering in the protection of their lives and property.
“Sequel to the above, the Commissioner of Police has detailed a highly powered investigation team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to demystify circumstances surrounding the incident and as well expand the network of arrests through painstaking intelligence driven investigation.
“The Oyo State Police Command enjoins residents to be generous with information and cooperate with the Command in a bid to rid the State of Criminal elements whose intent is to propagate their separatist agenda.
“More updates would be provided accordingly. If you see something, say something and the Police will immediately do something.
“In cases of emergency, the Command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615 (Toll free) (Oyo State Security Response Center.), and Oyo State Police Command Emergency line 08081768614”
The Nigerian Army, in a separate statement on X (formerly Twitter), said: “This is to notify the general public that today Saturday 13 April 2024, sequel to the report of an attack on the State Secretariat Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State, troops promptly responded to the incident and had contact with adherents of the Yoruba Nation dressed in foreign military camouflage with berets and armed with dangerous weapons in buses and motorbikes.
“Upon encountering own troops, the Yoruba nation adherents engaged the troops in a shootout. Troops, utilising superior firepower, successfully subdued the attackers, who subsequently retreated in disarray.
“As a result of this engagement, nine members of the irredentist group were apprehended while one Semi Automatic Pump Action rifle and ammunition were recovered.
“Currently, troops are on the track of the fleeing adherents, and the situation is under control.
“We assure members of the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of the general area.
“We urge the public to remain calm and vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate security agencies.
“The safety and security of the citizenry remain a priority, as we will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace and order in the region.”
It was gathered that the gunmen drove to the secretariat in a grey Toyota Hiace bus and on two motorcycles, which have now been seized and taken to the State Police Headquarters.
About 10 of the invaders blocked the Secretariat-Total Garden Road to enable other members of the group force their way into the secretariat complex.
Those ones headed straight to the State House of Assembly premises located within the secretariat where they removed the Nigerian national flag and replaced it with their O’odua Nation flag.
However, operatives of the Amotekun Corps, who were stationed nearby as part of regular security measures by government, confronted the invaders who responded with gunshots.
The Amotekun operatives returned fire and were soon joined by more personnel from the army, police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Within minutes, the hoodlums were overpowered and arrested.
They had charms on their necks and round their waists. Some of them took to their heels once they sensed danger.
The security men were able to arrest some of the gunmen while others took to their heels and were pursued into the nearby bushes and forest.
The Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Security, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said the situation had been brought under control.
Owoseni described the gunmen as miscreants.
”There is no need to panic. Everything is under control,” he said.
Igboho, Akintoye disown agitators
Contacted yesterday for their reactions to the invasion, Igboho, who recently returned to Nigeria following his arrest and trial in Benin Republic for illegal migration, dubious connivance with immigration officers and an attempt to cause civil unrest, and Akintoye said they had no business whatsoever with the agitators.
Akintoye specifically fingered a woman (name withheld) said to be from a prominent family in Lagos as the main backer of the hoodlums.
He said the invaders, by their conduct, were not fighting for Yoruba interest but against the people.
He said information available to him suggested that the group had appointed an “interim government for the Yoruba Nation” and had chosen to install same by hosting their flag and take over the government of the region from the Oyo State secretariat.
Prof Akintoye said: “I am not connected, I have no contact and I do not know anything about the woman and her group. I don’t know what they are doing.
“I learnt they are engaged in some sort of insanity in Ibadan. It has nothing to do with me or people like Chief Sunday Igboho who are working with me.
“We are the authentic Yoruba Nation Movement. We are not connected or working with anyone to oppress the Yoruba in Nigeria.
“We are the people fighting for Yoruba nation freedom and we will win the war peacefully and in an orderly manner.
“They are not struggling for the Yoruba nation; they are struggling against the Yoruba nation. I was not aware of the situation in Ibadan until I was informed by Chief Sunday Igboho this morning.
“I am not part of it. They are not from us. It is a lunatic fringe. We in this struggle won’t act in such a manner.”
Igboho, on his part, said: “I know nothing about it. I am not even aware of those behind it. If I am going to do anything or any struggle for Yoruba Nation, you know we will inform people ahead.
“We will announce our plans and all our leaders and other stakeholders will also be involved and we will collaborate to do so.
“So, anything they are doing, whether attacking the government or military barrack or police station, I know nothing about it and I am not part of it.”
A human rights lawyer and lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged South-East residents to completely ignore what he described as a “fraudulent” sit-at-home order allegedly scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, by a faction of the group.
Recall that the pro-Biafran group, through its spokesman Emma Powerful, had directed a sit-at-home on February 2 across the region in solidarity with traders at the Onitsha Main Market.
Powerful said the total shutdown in Biafraland is a direct, peaceful, and unified response to the actions of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week.
But in a counter statement released on Saturday, Ejiofor said the source behind the directive, operating under the guise of “Emma Powerful,” has been compromised and is acting against the collective interest of Ndi-Igbo.
He insisted that IPOB has formally and decisively distanced itself from the false sit-at-home order and directed Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful activities without fear.
The statement read in part: “Once again, the well-worn theatre of misinformation has opened its curtains, this time with a particularly lazy script and an insultingly predictable cast.
“Late yesterday, a report was widely circulated alleging that a total lockdown of Ala-Igbo had been ordered under the guise of a sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by ‘Emma Powerful,’ slated for Monday, February 2, 2026.
“Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake, a phantom, a calculated falsehood.
“Upon careful inquiry and diligent verification, especially considering the delicate and hard-won calm presently returning to our homeland, it became glaringly obvious that the so-called ‘Emma Powerful’ platform has been fatally compromised.
“It has been hijacked by vested interests whose business model thrives on fear, disruption, extortion, and the cynical exploitation of vulnerable communities.
“The peaceful global movement of the IPOB has formally and decisively disowned this fabricated publication, categorically distancing itself from the false sit-at-home order and directing Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful and normal activities without fear.
“Going forward, the message from IPOB is unmistakable: any publication attributed to ‘Emma Powerful’ should be treated with extreme suspicion, if not outright contempt.
“Frankly, one cannot but express astonishment, bordering on disbelief, that at such a critical juncture, when relative peace is cautiously resurfacing in Ala-Igbo, anyone would recklessly circulate information capable of reopening wounds and inviting criminal infiltration.
“History has taught us, at unbearable cost, what happens when fake directives fall into the hands of violent opportunists masquerading as enforcers.
“It is therefore no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to ‘ignore’ publications from this source. The time has come for greater clarity and firmness. The platform known as ‘Emma Powerful,’ in its current corrupted state, has positioned itself as an adversary to Ala-Igbo’s peace, progress, and collective well-being.”
According to Ejiofor, the peaceful global movement must go further by publicly and definitively explaining why this source has become unreliable, compromised, and hostile to the collective interest of Ndi-Igbo. Silence, ambiguity, or polite distancing, he said, only leaves room for further abuse.
“A masquerade that dances with fire should not be mistaken for a messenger of truth,” the statement concluded.
In recent operations across the North East, troops of the Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have neutralized scores of terrorists and recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) in a statement said intelligence has confirmed the killing of JULAIBIB, a top ISWAP commander operating within the Gujba axis of the Timbuktu Triangle, during an encounter around Kimba, Damboa LGA of Borno State, on 30 January 2026.
According to the statement, the elimination of the terrorist leader has thrown ISWAP elements in the area into disarray, with several fighters reportedly neutralised during the operation.
In a related operation, troops of OPHK, working in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force, neutralised 3 terrorists during a well-coordinated ambush between Ngazalgana and Lamusheri communities in Borno State.
It said the operation followed credible intelligence on insurgent movements in the area, as troops laid an ambush along the identified route and engaged the terrorists with effective firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of 3 insurgents, while others fled with gunshot injuries.
The statement said troops recovered two AK-47, adding that the operation forms part of sustained efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement and degrade their operational capabilities across the Theatre.
It said troops also recorded multiple successes in Adamawa State, adding that on 29 January, 2026, troops responded swiftly to a distress call from Barama community, Mubi North LGA, foiling an armed robbery attempt. Two armed robbery suspects attempting to attack a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, were arrested. One suspect sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh while attempting to confront the troops and was evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Mubi, for treatment.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation. Items recovered include 3 cutlasses, 2 laptops, 4 mobile phones, and one power bank.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State has affirmed the death sentences passed on five 2018 Offa robbery convicts.
The court dismissed their appeals as lacking merit.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state, Mohammed Akande, who witnessed the proceedings, said that the three Appeal Court judges unanimously agreed on the judgement and affirmed the verdict of the state High Court condemning the five persons to death by hanging.
“The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division comprising of Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi JCA, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole JCA and Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo today, Friday affirmed the judgment of Hon. Justice H. A. Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court, that sentenced the Appellants: Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Abraham to death by hanging for the involvement in the Offa Bank Robbery”.
Another official of the Court also said that the appellate court rejected all the grounds of appeal filed by the convicts and ordered their immediate return to prison custody.
“The court dismissed all their grounds of appeal and upheld their convictions. They have been taken back to prison,” the official said.
The official said that the arguments raised at the Court of Appeal were unconvincing and may not succeed if repeated at the apex court.
It is recalled that Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye and Adeola Abraham were convicted of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
A sixth suspect, Michael Adikwu, a retired police officer, died in custody before the commencement of the trial.
At least 32 people were killed, including nine police officers, two of whom were women, making it one of the deadliest bank robberies in Nigeria’s history.
Justice Haleemah Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court had earlier sentenced the five convicts to death by hanging after a trial that lasted about six years and attracted nationwide attention.
In her judgment, which lasted over four hours, Justice Salman held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
She said the convicts “acted contrary to the law and allowed their connections with those in power at the time to lead them astray”.
In addition to the death sentence, the trial court also sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms, in line with provisions of Nigeria’s penal laws.
Lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), described the appellate court’s decision as thorough and well considered, despite the prolonged delays that characterised the trial.
On the defence side, Abdullah Jimba, counsel to one of the convicts, said that preparations were underway to pursue a final appeal at the Supreme Court.
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