The Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Command on Monday paraded 21 suspects in connection with the invasion of the Oyo State government secretariat on Saturday, 13th April.
Ayanwale Rofiayat, one of the Yoruba Nation agitators suspects, that invaded the Oyo State House of Assembly and Governor’s office has stated that their sponsor promised them that the cost of living would automatically come down.
The Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Command on Monday paraded 21 suspects in connection with the invasion of the Oyo State government secretariat on Saturday, 13th April.
SaharaReporters earlier reported how the suspects claimed to be members of the Yoruba Nation agitation on Saturday invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital.
They were paraded alongside seized exhibits such as guns, ammunition, plaques with the Yoruba nation insignia, cutlasses, walkie-talkies, and other communication gadgets.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat while speaking to newsmen on Monday confirmed that the suspects would be charged with treasonable felony and terrorism as investigations intensify to reveal their sponsors, and other suspects are still at large.
However, during the parade, Rofiat explained that the army camouflage attire was given to her and other members when they converged in Ibadan before moving to the Secretariat.
“I’m from Igbo Ora in the Ibarapa zone of the state. The sponsors promised me and my entire family that they would empower us and that our future would be assured. Starvation would no longer be in our lives and that cost of living would automatically come down.
“The Army camouflage attire on me was given to me and other members when we converged in Ibadan before moving to the Secretariat.”
Another suspect, Mr Alabi Ogundeji, who is a 55-year-old lecturer at a Federal College of Education, said the membership of the Yoruba movement is spread across all Yoruba-speaking states.
He said: “Our leaders went to all Yoruba-speaking states to serve officials letters written and we were given our copies.
“Then the proclamation was made and after the declaration, occupation, and notification to the world that Yoruba is an indigenous nation.”
On his part, a 29-year-old phone repairer, Ademola Adeniyi, was defiant saying he didn’t regret his action.
Adeniyi said: “We all know that nothing is working in Nigeria and things are hard for everyone except those in government, we were at the Secretariat waiting for our leader to come and address us.
“We believe our leader knows much about the law and so we are not afraid to join when we were called upon. Our leaders told us that all challenges Yoruba are facing shall be addressed if we achieve our aim.”
Also, a septuagenarian, who was among the suspects, Mr Peter Adeyemo, had denied being a member noting that, he and his daughter went to Itamerin Market to buy some items and on their way back, they saw people gathered and inquired from a policeman, but were later rough-handled and arrested.
On the charms and amulets found on his body, Adeyemo, a furniture carpenter from Iwere Ile in the Ibarapa zone of Oyo State, admitted that he and his daughter were given some insignias including a flag found in possession of the daughter.