Security officers have arrested 16 “gunmen” suspected to be members of a group identified as Oodua nation agitators for invading the state secretariat at Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo. 

A source told NAN that the gunmen who were more than 10 blocked the secretariat, Total Garden road, to make way for other members of the group to force their way into the secretariat complex.

The gunmen, who were said to be dressed in military camouflage, were subdued with the arrival of security personnel.

The security personnel were able to arrest some of the gunmen while others took to their heels and were pursued into the nearby bushes and forest.

Sources said the gunmen were heading to the Oyo state house of assembly premises located within the secretariat when they were repelled.

They were also said to have removed the Nigerian national flag in the secretariat and replaced it with their “Oodua nation flag”, before the intervention of the security personnel.

“It was in the process of leaving the assembly complex that we started hearing gun shots and everyone began running for safety,” NAN quoted an eyewitness as saying.

The gunmen were said to have arrived in an ash-coloured Toyota Hiace bus and two motorcycles, which have now been seized and taken to the state police headquarters.

Adewale Osifeso, spokesperson of the Oyo police command, confirmed the incident.

The arrested suspects have been moved to the police headquarters at Eleiyele, while security personnel were stationed at the secretariat gate.

The Cable