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In what appears to be a reprisal attack against members of a local vigilante group,Soludero, some hoodlums, on Saturday, invaded the premises of Amuludun 99.1FM, a Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) station around Sasa, Ibadan, and vandalised cars and other facilities.
The development was said to have followed a clash between the vigilante group and some criminal elements in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Although FRCN was not the target of the rampaging hoodlums, the office of the vigilante group is located inside the premises of the radio station and when the hoodlums could not find members of the vigilante, they resorted to destruction of vehicles and other facilities.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, said the perpetrators of the vandalisation would be brought to book.
The statement read: “Sequel to the face-off between members of Soludero, a local vigilante group and some criminal elements around Sasa Area, Ojo, Akinyele LGA of Oyo State while on routine patrol, yesterday Saturday, 31st July, 2021, at about 0400HRS during which one Kabati ‘m’, a member of the criminal gang sustained gunshot injuries and was confirmed dead at the hospital.
“Consequent upon this, the hoodlums in their numbers stormed the Soludero presumed office, located at the premises of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Amuludun 99.1 FM, Moniya, Ibadan, in a bid to launch a reprisal attack.
“Preliminary investigation gathered from an on the spot assessment shows that, upon the arrival of the hoodlums, they became agitated as none of their targets was on sight.
“Consequently, windscreens/glasses of four (4) vehicles parked in the premises were broken along with the glass door at the entrance of the media outfit, inferring that the attack was not targeted directly at the media outfit but members of the vigilante group.
“While assuring all and sundry that the perpetrators of this dastardly act would be made to face justice, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Ngozi Onadeko, wishes to state that it is important to immediately report such occurrences as the above to the Police for immediate intervention.
“Meanwhile investigations are ongoing and developments would be communicated accordingly.”