*Broadcast live that UN will soon declare Odua Nation
*This is clear case of terrorism – Oyo CP
*Says agitation will be meted with adequate sanctions under laws of Nigeria
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Suspected Yoruba nation agitators early today, hijacked a Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) station in Ibadan, Amuludun FM for live broadcast to purportedly proclaim Yoruba nation.
New Nigerian gathered that the Yoruba nation agitators numbering about 20, stormed the FRCN station with charms at about 5:30am and seized the station’s live studio and as well hijacked the ongoing sponsored programme on the station
The agitators were said to have immediately taken over the live studio and the entire premises of the station, broadcasting that Oodua Nation has come to stay, Yoruba no more under Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that the United Nation will soon declare Oodua Nation, among other things.
It was the arrival of a combined team of the Police, Operation Burst and Nigerian Army that forced the agitators to flee the studio with some of them shouting that, “the Police are already tear gasing us, we are calling on our leaders to come and rescue us here”.
The FRCN Amuludun FM station General Manager, Mr. Stephen Agbaje while confirming the hijack of the station by the Yoruba nation agitators said, “Some group of agitators came around very early in the morning and took over the station, but the situation has been brought under control by the security agents and that ” they were able to recover the station, and some arrests have been made”.
Briefing journalists today, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Williams said the action of the agitators was ” criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of terrorism, which would be meted with adequate sanctions under the laws of the land”.
CP Williams said five suspects identified as Noah Atoyebi ‘M’ 30yrs, Gbenga Adeleke ‘M’ 25yrs, Abdulganiyu Mustafa Kolawole ‘M’ 35yrs, Bashiru Kehinde O. ‘F’ and Fajola Elija ‘M’ 45yrs have been arrested with various criminal charms in connection with the incident.
” 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”, he said.
CP Williams added, “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”
CP Williams stressed, ” 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 have been strategically modified for optimum effectiveness not only for tomorrow’s epoch making ceremony but beyond,” he assured.
