Police Arrest 46 Suspected OPC Members In Ibadan Over Violent Clash
At least 46 suspected members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) have been arrested by men of the Oyo State police command over a bloody clash between rival groups in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP. Adekunle Ajisebutu who confirmed their arrest in Ibadan on Tuesday said the clash was being investigated.
According to him, the investigation would determine whether the suspects are members of the Yoruba militant group.
He said after the investigation those found culpable would be arraigned in court for disrupting the peace of the state.
There was pandemonium at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, when two suspected factions of the OPC engaged each other in a battle of supremacy.
As they clashed there was confusion in Oke-Ado, Oke-Bola, Imalefalaafia, Liberty Road, Anfaani areas of Ibadan as members of New Era and the Gani Adams factions of the group engaged in bloody clash in the areas.
It was learnt that the bloody clash erupted at a gathering over the weekend when a leader of one of the OPC factions said to be residing around the Oke-Ado market area/ Oke-Bola reportedly had a disagreement with some members of the other OPC faction said to be a the venue.
Sources said the clash between the factional OPC groups continued till Sunday evening during which the fracas extended to Oredein/Akuro areas and that by Monday morning, it has degenerated into full blown mayhem forcing residents and shop owners in the affected areas to flee their homes and as well closed their shops.
According to sources in the affected areas, several properties, items meant for sale worth millions of naira were destroyed by the warring OPC faction members during the clashes at some shops beside popular Kola Eleja store, while a newly built white structure opposite a filling station in Oke Ado area had their glasses shattered.
Roads leading to the inner part of the Oke Ado market were deserted as broken bottles, planks and glasses littered the street linking the market junction.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Odude was sighted leading men of the state Police Command to the areas to maintain peace while men of the command immediately sacked the warring OPC factional members from the area.
Commenting on the bloody clash, Oyo State chairman of the Gani Adams OPC faction, Comrade Rotimi Oluomo stated that members of his faction were not involved in the said fracas that rocked some parts of Ibadan since Saturday.
He claimed that the bloody clash was between hoodlums from Foko and Oke-Ado which had been on for a very long time and not members of his OPC faction.
The New Era faction of OPC in a statement by its state PRO, Comrade Gbolahan Oladiran alleged that the Oyo State Coordinator of OPC Gani Adams faction should be held responsible for the Ibadan mayhem.
