Igbeti attack: Oyo govt announces arrest of suspects, declares surveillance aircraft active

Igbeti attack: Oyo govt announces arrest of suspects, declares surveillance aircraft active

Khalid ABRAHAM

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Barely 24hrs after terrorists attacked a military camp in the outskirts of Igbeti in the Olorunsogo local government council, the Deputy Governor, Barrister Adebayo Lawal, was on the ground to assess the situation.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, who accompanied him, the Deputy Governor said that Governor Seyi Makinde had a message for the people: ‘You will never be abandoned’.

While being conducted round the scene of the attack by the Commanding Officer, 81 Battalion, Lt Col Innocent Asogwa, the Deputy Governor was informed that not less than 120 soldiers had been sent into the bush on the trail of the terrorists.

Explaining the cause of the fire that burned the building and a vehicle, the commander said that the terrorists used grenade launchers that escalated the cooking cylinders in the premises.

The Commissioner said that not less than five of the terrorists had been arrested in military uniforms, while more arrests are expected to be made.

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The Deputy Governor said that the state’s newly procured surveillance aircraft engage constantly in random sorties (exercises) and cannot be permanently in the sky but will remain handy for all operations and reconnaissance.

The Deputy Governor, who was at the scene with some local government chairmen and the Onigbeti of Igbeti, said that an emergency committee of the five adjoining local government councils of Olorunsogo, Oriire, Saki East, Orelope and Irepo had been set up to immediately provide all the needs of the security men in the areas and liaise with the state government for prompt assistance.

‘As a responsible government, we will continue to play our part in ensuring that our people are safe.’

He also said that government welcomed the news that there were no casualties.

Also in the Deputy Governor’s entourage were the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Prof Saliu Adelabu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya.

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