In its bid to apprehend the fleeing factional leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Oyo State council, the state police command has extended its search beyond the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, disclosed this to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday.
Bolanta had on Wednesday declared the union leaders, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a Tokyo), and Mr. Mukaila Lamidi (a.ka. Auxilliary), wanted in connection with the violence that erupted in the state capital recently.
The police boss said that at press time, no information had been received on the whereabouts of the wanted union leaders.
He said the command was spreading its tentacles far and wide in order to apprehend the suspects in their hideouts.
He added that the search yielded positive result again on Thursday as five more suspects were arrested in Iseyin in connection with the mayhem which left many people either dead or maimed and several property vandalised.
"We are not limiting our search for the suspects to Ibadan. We are combing all parts of the state and beyond to fish out the troublemakers. In fact, we just arrested five persons in Iseyin today (yesterday) and anyone confirmed to have a link with the violence would be taken to court for the law to take its course. It is either criminals change their ways or relocate from this state. There is no hiding place for them," Bolanta declared.
Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that the police on Thursday arraigned 18 members of the union suspected to be part of the violence before a Magistrate Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan.
They were said to have been arraigned on a three-count charge of armed robbery, illegal possession of arms and ammunition as well as breach of public peace.
They were said to have been remanded in prison custody.
Source: The Punch