The Police have begun a manhunt for Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, the widow of deceased politician, Moshood Abiola.
Onitiri-Abiola is believed to be the sponsor of the Yoruba Nation agitators who invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Ibadan.
The manhunt began after a video in which she claimed responsibility for the violence on Saturday, April 13 surfaced on social media, a day after the Ibadan incident in which at least 20 were nabbed by security agents.
The armed agitators, clad in military camouflage, invaded the Oyo State House of Assembly complex located inside the secretariat and hoisted their flag on Saturday morning. They also attempted to breach the security of the governor’s office, before they were repelled by security operatives.
Those arrested were paraded yesterday by the police with the arms, ammunition, camouflage and other items recovered from them.
Oyo State Police Commissioner, Adebola Hamzat, who paraded the suspects, described the invasion as a criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism, which would be meted with adequate sanctions.
Although he did not mention the name of Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola, Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Security Matters, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said he was aware that she is leading a group of Yoruba Nation agitators. Owoseni, in a televised statement, acknowledged her longstanding involvement in separatist movements and highlighted the need for security reform and youth engagement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Prof. Banji Akintoye, who is the leader of another Yoruba group along with Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, in a statement on Saturday dissociated his group from the action.
The Oyo State Police Commissioner said the arrested suspects have been listing the names of their sponsors, adding that the police had visited some locations within Oyo State where some incriminating items were recovered.
The Commissioner urged parents and leaders to discourage their wards from engaging in activities that threaten public order, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to safeguard the state and nation.