The Oyo State Police Command has detained 78 alleged Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) members due to their involvement in violence.During the arrest, the suspects were found to be in possession of guns, 724 live cartridges, 25 cutlasses, seven jack knives, 33 mobile phones, one laptop, charms, two vehicles, and more . Also found were treats, two automobiles, and more than N3 million in cash.
Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde announced the dissolution of PMS, led by a former NURTW chief named Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, a.k.a. Auxiliary, on Monday through his Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi.
Speaking to reporters in Ibadan while parading the suspects at the Police Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, Commissioner of Police Adebowale Williams said the command’s proactive nature and action on intelligence-driven surveillance allowed it to thwart the suspects’ attempt to cause mayhem and civil unrest in the state after their dissolution.
In his words,
“On 30/05/2023 in a strategic intelligence coordinated raid around his location at Diamond Hotel, Alakia-Isebo, under Egbeda Local Government Area of the state, 78 suspected hoodlums, who had perfected plans to unleash mayhem in the early hours of today (yesterday) at major parts of the metropolis were arrested in possession of sophisticated firearms.
“During the raid, sophisticated firearms were recovered inside the hotel rooms and in the trunk compartment of parked vehicles within the hotel”.
He pointed out that although the PMS head (Auxiliary) could flee with some of his troops during the gunfight with the Police, one of the group’s members was neutralized.
Adebowale believes that the gang carried out the attack on 14 members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in the Agodi axis of Ibadan North-East Local Government Area, as they travelled to the site of Monday’s inaugural celebration.
“In line with standard operational procedure, all recovered items were properly documented, packaged and recorded for onward forensic analysis and for evidence purposes in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other relevant laws”, he declared.
He encouraged citizens of the state to assist the Police by providing pertinent information to aid in the capture of the fired PMS Chieftain (Auxiliary).
cc: Vanguard Ng
