Ilana Odua Rally: Security Operatives Take Over Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos

• Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, was also seen with his men at the venue.

There is a heavy presence of security operatives at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos, the proposed venue of the Yoruba nation rally by secessionist group, Ilana Odua. 

It was gathered that men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are stationed at the Park. Men of the Department of State Services (DSS) are said to be among the joint security forces who are at the venue with scores of patrol vans, heavy anti-riot gun trucks and Black Marias.

The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, was also seen with his men at the venue.

Read also: Yoruba Nation: Police Warn Against Holding July 3 Lagos Rally

Odumosu’s men had on Friday embarked on a show of force in the state to warn agitators and Yoruba nation separatists against any form of rally slated to hold in the nation’s economic capital today.

Following Thursday’s raid of the house of Yoruba rights activist Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, by the Department of State Services, the self-styled activist, had suspended the Lagos rally. Igboho has however been declared wanted by the secret police for allegedly stockpiling arms.

But the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, led by Second Republic Senator, Banji Akintoye, had said there was no going back, adding that “It is the duty of Police to ensure the rally is not hijacked by hoodlums”.

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“Our rally scheduled to hold on Saturday will still hold without any fear or intimidation and we promise to be peaceful like we have always been,” the Akintoye-led body wrote in a letter addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu; and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.