The police are actively seeking Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, the widow of late Chief Moshood Abiola, for her alleged involvement in sponsoring the invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat by Yoruba Nation agitators.
Following the circulation of a viral video on Saturday, 13th April 2024, where she purportedly claimed responsibility for the violence, authorities initiated a manhunt for her.
The armed agitators, dressed in military attire, stormed the Oyo State House of Assembly complex within the secretariat, raising their flag and attempting to breach the security of the governor’s office before being repelled by security forces.
Twenty-one of the agitators were apprehended and later paraded by the police, along with weapons, ammunition, and camouflage recovered from them.
Oyo State Police Commissioner, Adebola Hamzat, condemned the invasion as criminal, unpatriotic, and tantamount to treasonable felony and terrorism, vowing appropriate sanctions.
While not directly naming Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola, the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Security Matters, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, acknowledged her alleged leadership role in the separatist movement.
Prof. Banji Akintoye, leader of another Yoruba group, distanced his faction from the incident, attributing it to the group purportedly led by Mrs. Onitiri-Abiola, as evidenced by a viral video where she claimed leadership.
The arrested suspects have reportedly been divulging information about their sponsors, leading to police raids and the recovery of incriminating evidence.
The Commissioner emphasized the importance of parental guidance and community leadership in dissuading youth from engaging in activities that disrupt public order, advocating for collective efforts to protect the state and nation.
Story: Christy Dung